The San Francisco call., 1908-07-06
Declares Further That Train
Schedule Called for Speed
Exceeding Statute Limit
Company Refutes Employees AS
sertiOns and Puts the Entire
Blame on His Shoulders
Two More Likely to Die of Hurts
Received, While One Is Added
to the Injured List
Committee OF Citizens Picked by
Railroad Orders Arrest of
Accused Engineer

My belief was that with the 6rsI
semaphore signaling for me to pro-
ceed I had the right of way. The
danger signal on the second sema-
phore / could not see until was close
upon it. Then ran into the open
switch and my reverse did not work
because my whole train had been de-
rallied
The city ordinance limits the speed
to p miles on the line on which 1 was
running. And yet the schedule Of the
Southern Pacific company calls for
speed of 80 miles an hour.
The signal and switch were too
close together and could not see the
second block from the engine until
was $50 feet away from it. Other
railroad men have told me that it is
hard to see the second signal from
the cab.-Statement of Engineer Ev-
erett ]. Barry.
Everett John Barry, the engineer OF
train 81. whose disregard of signals
caused a disastrous train wreck and
the loss of seven or more lives at
First and Webster streets, Oakland,
Saturday evening, lays the blame for
the tragedy upon what he claims IS an
imperfect signaling system maintained
by the Southern Pacific railroad
Barry was new to that line and was
making his first trip alone. He had
been over the route three times with
other engineers. He says that he fol-
lowed instructions and that the sema-
phOre signals were not properly
placed to insure safety. He further as
serts that the signals cannot be easily
seen from the cab and that the rate
of speed required by the cOmpany's
schedule is eight miles an hour faster
than that allowed BY the city ordi-
nance He also declares that he had
never been informed regarding the yard
limit at Alice street and that there IS
no sign at that point 20 indicate the
fact
COMMITTEE BLASIES ENGINEER
On the other hand. an extra-legaI in
vestfgating committee OF railroad OH
Gals. citizens and city employees. named
BY the railroad company-an unusual
creation IN itself-refutes Barry ;
statements and places the blame for
the horror entirely upon his shoulders
Both before a special committee and
later at the Oakland police station.
where he was held on charge OF man
slaughter. Barry declared that he ran
the train as he had been told 70 run
High speed was required OF the train.
il is claimed, and high speed Barry
furnished. until disaster stopped the
flight and seven human beings were
suddenly killed under a crunching
weight of steel and timber. Twenty
five others were injured. two OF whom.
C. r Brown. solicitor in the employ OF
the London and Lancashire Insurance.
company. living al 1S4S Jackson street.
and Frank Cram OF the Cram construc-
ton company and living at 1924 Golden
Gate avenue. may yet die Both are
confined at Providence hospital, Oak
land
Another name was added 20 the in
jured list yesterday IN that OF Mrs
s. Clifford. OF Stockton. a handsome
young woman who was riding IN the
smoker with her husband She was
badly Jared by the collision.
TEN IN COMMITTEE
Ten officials OF the Southern Pacific
company. headed by T. z Calvin. gem
eraI manager; W. ]. Peterson. chief OF
detectives OF Oakland. and several
others, assembled at the Oakland mole
yesterday morning and investigated the
disaster which IN 30 households turned
the day OF national celebration into Ons
of the deepest grief. Barry appeared
before the committee.
The report returned by the commit,
tee which is remarkable BY reason OF
the fact that Il was one OF the first
bodies whose membership included
laymen ever appointed BY a railroad
company TO investigate a wreck in this
state. is as follows:
After a thorough investigation OF
the accident which occurred at the
First and Webster street crossing on
July A. 1908, the committee report tna
following as TO findings.
FINDING OF BOARD
That Towerman c. A McCurdy was
not at fault.
That Engineer William Marks OF the
Fourteenth street local was not az
fault
THAT Engineer z. J. Berry OF train
No. 81 was at fault in that he was run