Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-31
BROKEN BRAKE
BEAM MMAYHAVE
CAUSED WRECK
OF ROCK ISLAND
CATAST TROPHE AT GREEN
MOUNTAIN is BEING HELD TO-
DAY AT MARSHALLTOWN.
Marshalltown, March so.-(special.)

Marshalltown, March 30.-(Special.)
The probable cause Of the Green
Mountain wreck of the Rock Island
passenger train on March 21 was
brought out at the hearing before the
railroad commissioners today. Rail-
road men testified that a brake beam
on the front tender of the first engine
dropped down which may have de-
rallied the train. 1t was brought out
that the train was running not to ex-
ceed twenty-five miles an hour and
that another Rock Island train went
over the same track from Waterloo to
Marshalltown short time before with
the engine running backwards, In
safety, that the track was not in par
ticularly bad condition.
The marks on the ties, it was testi-
fed, were made by the trucks of the
smoker, and not the engine, indicating
that the smoker left the track first.
E. S. Pritchard, the engineer, said he
had orders to run not to exceed ten
miles an hour on the track three miles
east Of Gladbrook and not over five
miles an hour on the track east OF
Reinbeck, but the wreck did not oc-
cur on these sections. The evidence
will be submitted and the case closed
today. The witnesses examined today
were Division Superintendent Given OF
Cedar Rapids Conductor Einwalter OF
Cedar Rapids, George McCougen OF
Chicago, claim attorney; e. S. Pritch-
ard, engineer, Cedar Rapids; Fred M.
Wilbur of Marshalltown, undertaken;
Will F. Estes Of Marshalltown, under
taker; DR.. N. G.. Mighell, who had
charge Of the doctors.
After a >hearing in which a score
or more Of witnesses were examined,
the state railway commission is still
without information as to the cause
for the disastrous Rock Island wreck
at G1adbrooK, March II, in which fifty
one people lost their lives, and many
more were seriously injured.
Many consider the fact that the en-
gines were running at a high rate Of
speed and were backing up as the
cause Of the accident, pointing out
that the light tender in the lead in
pitching and rolling under high speed
jumped the track and pulled the en-
gine after it.
r. l. Beale Of MarshaIltown, night
Operator Of the Great Western, the man
who handled the orders sending the
Rock Island train north out Of Mar
shalltown, testifying that John White,
the pilot, who sacrificed his life, de-
cided that the train should make the
run with the engines backing.
At Marshalltown, where the train
left the Northwestern tracks and
transferred to the Great Western. there
is Y. Beale testified that White did
not direct that the engines should be
turned, stating that he did mot believe
that the engines could make the Y
turn by reason Of their weight.
Proved Fatal Choice.
Between attempting to turn the en-
gines and backing up the train he
chose the latter.
F. G. Baikie Of Des Moines, Great
Western dispatcher, who was in COM
munication with Pilot White and the
conductor on the train relative to
thrning the engines, informed them
that the engines could be turned He
said yesterday that the engines could
Great Western had turned engines Of
equal weight.
He did not order White to do this,
however. He testified that he had left
the whole matter with White, the pilot
After receiving the order, leaving the
choice to him, White considered the
matter for time. Before he had made
up his HIi1u, COHuuctor Jake NaunOIZ
came up with his watch in his hand
and remarked that time was being lost.
These facts were brought out In the
testimony Of Dispatcher Beale Of
Marshalltown.
On further investigation the commits
sioners found that when a train is de-
touring over a foreign company's line,
the pilot Of the line over which the de-
tour is being made is in absolute
charge and his decision is equivalent
to an order.