Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-12-14
THE UNITED STATES
OFFICIALS ARR:
PROBING WRECK
Investigation Was Started Sun
day Al Hagerstown.
GOVERNMENT TAKES
HAND IN AFFAIR

/ Railroad Officials Assisted by the
government Trying TO Ascertain
the Cause y Pen Mar Wreek--ln-
guest Begins at waynesboro This
/ Afternoon,
| HAGERsTowN. Md. Dec, ga
private Investigation OF one Of the
most disastrous wrecks ia Maryland
railroad history began yesterday
morning in the Office OF Division Su.
perintendent II. n Berry. this city.
when testimony of railroad employees
was heard relative to che head-on col
lision at pen-Mar late Friday night,
which resulted IN the death Of five
men and injury of six and practically
/ demolished two locomotives, reduced
eight cars and baggage car 70 the
/ trucks and wheels aud tied mp the
whole line for nearly SO hours The
l
men and what was done is not known,
Those who attended the hearing re-
/ fused to discuss It. II IL believed,
! however, that facts were brought out
/ that show the cause of this disaster
and upon whom the blame Ii TO be
! placed
! The Investigation here was held
under the direction OF General Man
ager j. A. Shepherd who remained
at his Office In Baltimore and direct
ed the cross-examnation OF witnesses
! by telephone
Two representatives of the Inter
State Commerce Commission, which
/ has adopted regulations covering such
cases, were present and took notes.
The official investigation began for
mally az Waynesboro. Pa, at 2 a. m.
today, when Coroner Maclays's jury
of inquest started the probe
Coroner Maelay selected the coro.
ner's jury as follows: The members
are: ], b. Long. ]. Potter, Daniel Bar
nett, Edward Beck, Samuel Hickman
and John Neal.
The jury visited the scene OF the
wreck Saturday and this morning
began the taking of evidence at the
LELAND Hotel, Waynseboro
At the coroner's inquest. II was
stated yesterday, representatives OF
the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion will take stenographic record OF
all the facts and members of the
Pennsylvania Railway Commission
will be present.
II was again the story Of the hu.
man factor Either the dispatcher at
Hagerstown failed to give correct or
ders to the crew Of a deadhead east
bound passenger train or II the or.
ders were given they were misinter-
preted or Forgotten. officials Of the
road admit that the human factor
win always be fallible and declare
that they could not have averted the
wreck
Victims Of the Wreck.
The list OF dead follows
! Frank NJ. Letter Hightield, bag
ShEt llldSAcis
]. l.. Helbig, Cumberland, freight
engineer
william Eicheberger, Hagerstown,
freight conductor. body found at
1880 O'Clock Saturday night.
William, also known as Harry,
Clayton, Hagerstown, freight fireman.
J.. McFatlin, tramp, Biilmyer, Ian
caster county, Pa.
The injured, none seriously, were:
j. j. Whorter, Jr., Baltimore, fire
man ON the second freight engine,
]. II. Thompson, Hagerstown, sec
ond freight engineer.
Coleman Cook, Baltimore, passen-
ger engineer.
p. j. Burgan, Hagerstown, freight
/ brakeman.
d. b. Booney, freight brakeman.
Charles McGunn, Chicago, tramp.
Oscar Bixler, Westminster. tramp.
With the exception OF Bixler, who
Is at the Washington County Hispi-
tai at Hagerstown, all the injured
were able 10 go home.