Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-12-13
THE UNITED STATES
OFFICIALS ARE
PROBING WRECK
Investigation Was Started Sun.
day At Hagerstown.
GOVERNMENT TAKES
HAND IN AFFAIR

government Trying to Ascertain
tho Cause " Pen Mar wreek--ln.
quest Begins at Waynesboro This
Afternoon.
HAGERsToWN. Md. Dec. "A
private investigation OF one OF the
most disastrous wrecks In Maryland
railroad history began yesterday
morning In the Office Of Division. SUI
parintendent H. w. Berry, this city,
when Testimony OF railroad employees
was heard relative 20 the headon col
nslon IT penMar 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 TO the
trucks and wheels aud tied lip the
whole line for Nearly 20 hours. The
hearing was attended by only railroad
mon and what was done Is not known.
Those who attended the hearing re.
fused 10 discuss II Il IA believed,
however. that facts were brought out
that show the cause OF this disaster
and upon whom the blame IL 20 be
placed
The investigation here waa held
unaer the direction Of General Man.
ager j, A. Shepherd. who remained
AT his office in baltimore and direct.
ed the croas-examination Of Witnesses
by telephone
Two representative of the Inter.
state Commerce Commission, which
has adopted regulations covering such
cases. we're present and took notee-
The official investigation began for.
mally AZ Waynesboro, Pa, at q, m.
today, when Coroner Maclaya'a jury
of Inquest started the probe.
Coroner Maclay selected the eoro-
ner's Jury aA follows; The members
are. ]. u. Long, j. 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 vt the
4 Leland Hotel. Waynseboro.
At the coroner's Inquest il was
stated yesterday. represeata lives Of
/ the Interstate Commerce Commits
! sion viii take a stenographie record Of
/ all the facts and members Of the
( Pennsylvania Railway Commission
/ viii be present
/ II was again the story Of the hui
man factor Either the dispatcher at
| Hagerstown failed 70 give correct or
ders to the crew OF a deadhead east
1 bound passenger train or IL the or
4 ders were given they we're misinter-
preted or forgotte4 Officials Of the
road admit that the human factor
viii 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. Highneld bag.
gage master.
1 j. T. Helbg, Cumberland, freight
I engineer
| william Elchelberger, Hagerstown,
| freight conductor, body found at
1890 O'Clock Saturday night.
I william, also known as Harry,
Clayton, Hagerstown, freight fireman.
| J.. McFatlin. tramp, Billmyer Ian
caster county Pa.
The injured, none seriously, we're:
j. j. Whorter, Jr.. Baltimore, fire.
man on the second freight engine.
j. n. Thompson. Hagerstown. sec
ond freight engineer.
Coleman Cook, Baltimore. passen-
ger engineer.
p. j. Burgan, Hagerstown, freight
brakeman
d. y. Booney. freight brakeman.
Charles McGunn. Chicago, tramp
Oscar Bixler, Westminster tramp.
With the exception Of Bixler, who
ia at the Washington County Hispi-
tai at Hagerstown, all the injured
were able 70 20 home.