Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-07-06
N0T03HlN WAS GREEN
HAD ONLY HAD \ SHORT IN
PERIENCE IN RUNNING \
MOTOR CAR.
STATEMENTS CONFLICTING
Those Who Were on the Car Give Dif-
fcrcnt Stories Than Does Pres
ldcnt of The Road.

Two men riding on top OF the
wrecked Sand Springs car Thursday
night, together with an inexperienced
motorman, and the extremely crowd
ed condition Of the car, We're the
prime factors in the death Of three
persons and the injury to score or
more OF others,
Charles Page owner of the SAND
Springs lnterurban line, declared last
night to the World that these things
resulted in the accident that brought
so much sorrow TO Tulsa. Mr.. Page
declined to make any formal state
ment, but answered several questions
put To him by representative OF tho
World. Neither Mr.. Page nor Mr.
Stefflns, his traffic manager, could be
found all day yesterday, until eight
o'clock in the evening.
Road Was Responsible.
Mr.. Page stated, emphatlcally, that
his road was responsible for the acci-
dent and that no damage suits would
result. because he was ready to DO
"the right thing by all those who sur
fered injury or loss in the wreck
IL want the people to blame me,
and | would not feel right unless they
did" was the answer he made TO
question informing him that many
people were blaming the management
of the road for the accident.
The theory that two men riding on
the top OF the car indirectly caused
the accident, was first advanced by
Mr.. Page last night. He said that
two men who got onto the roof OF the
car at the park refused to get OF ana
that about 5000 feet from where the
accident happened, they came into
contact with some live wires and fell
Off.
Motorman Sims saw the men fall
off, became excited and lost control OF
his car,
MOtorman Was Green.
It was learned yesterday that Mo-
torman Sims, who Vas seriously in
iured in the wreck was a green
man He had only been working for
the railroad about six weeks. The
fatal run Thursday night was the first
time he had ever been in charge OF
the wrecked car. The regular motor
man quit his job on the run before
the fatal one and Sims was assigned
to the car.
Sims had little experience and when
his car got beyond his control he
completely lost his head. He neglect
ed to reverse his power until the
crash came. II he had reversed his
power the accident would have been
aVerted.
Lie" Declares Page.
Many people stated yesterday that
the air brakes on the car had peen
out of order for some time, but this
was emphatically denied by Mr. Page.
"It is lie,' he said
Mr. Page, however, stated that the
crowded condition of the platform,
and the excitement, prevented sims
from working the air" Many per-
sons are free in their condemnation
of system that would allow such a
motorman, who was unfamiliar with
how to control his car. have charge
of 800 passengers that were packeu
into the wrecked car.
Conflicting stories also come from
those on the car ahead that was
struck by the other car. Those on
this car unite in declaring that the
gasoline engine went dead and that
the car was standing still. Mr.. Page
and others connected with the line are
emphatic in saying that the engine
was not stopped, but that the car had
stopped to let off some passengers
and was Just started off again when
the crash came.
In fact, on almost every particular
of the wreck, the statements are con-
flicting. Hardly any two recall things
in the same light
Mr.. Page yesterday sent a complete
report of the wreck to the state cor
poration commission and an investi-
cation will probably follow.
If an investigation is held, ana
shows that no criminal blame is at
tached to any one. it will at least
clear up an atmosphere that is now
surcharged with all kinds Of rumors
and 1t will also show just how the
line is being operated. The accident
has brought to light many incidents
in connection with the operation OF
the cars, that will sooner or later
result in other serious accidents.
Mr. Page expressed his great sor-
row at the loss of life and limb He
was completely worn out last night |
having been at the scene of the wreck |
since it occurred until late yesterday
afternoon.