The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1913-08-22
INQUIRY INT0L.&C WRECK
Free and Full Hearing Before
Railroad Commission.
TREsTLE WAS IN GOOD SHAPE.
Officers and Trainmen's Testimony
Failed to Shed New Light on
Cause of Wreck, on July 80.

Columbia Special to Charleston
News and Courier, Aug. 21.-Oficers
and trainmen giving testimony for
three hours before the railroad COM
mission today failed to shed any new
light on the cause of the wreck at
Hooper's creek, on the Lancaster &
Chester Railway, on July 80, when
three lives were lost. All witnesses
giving testimony were closely ques-
toned by the members of the com
mission. Much testimony of a tech
nical nature was asked in an attempt
to place the cause of the wreck.
Every member Of the train crew tes-
tilted that they did not know what
caused the wreck, but thought that
1t was either the gondola or the
loaded coal car that jumped the
track. No direct testimony was
given as to which car of the train
left the track first All witnesses
testified that the train was not going
more than twenty miles an hour
when the cars fell through the tres
tie. After asking for certain records
as to the weight Of the cars and the
weight Of loads, the commission ad-
tourned the hearing, and will later
make report.
The hearing was heard in the SUI
T. Y. Williams appeared as attorney
for the Lancaster & Chester road.
]. l.. Glenn, ]. II. Marion and A. L.
CASTOR, attorneys representing pas
sengers who were injured in the
wreck, appeared at the hearing.
Several witnesses were questioned in
a general manner by the attorneys
The bulk of the questions was asked
by John G.. Richards, Jr., chairman
Of the railroad commission G.. Nc
Duffie Hampton also questioned the
witnesses principally on the testi-
mony bearing on the technical side
Of the hearing. B. L. Caughman.
member of the commission, was pres
ent at the hearing.
TESTIMONY INVITED.
1--WE wish to have a free and frank
hearing. We want to get at the
cause of the wreck. If there is any
one who desires to testify let him
come forward" said Chairman Rich
ards at the conclusion of the hear
ing.
Six witnesses, P. w. Hardin. road
master; A. p. Mcclure, superinten-
dent; ID. f. Penny, conductor; f. B.
Huggins, fireman; j. A. Stewman,
engineer, and Jerry Westbrook,
negro, who was the only eyewitness,
gave testimony at the hearing. The
principal points developed were:
That the maximum speed limit on the
road was 20 miles an hour; that the
train was not running over 90 miles
when the wreck occurred: that the
wreck must have been caused by the
truck of one of the cars leaving the
track; that the engineer applied the
air brakes on the down grade to the
trestle and did not cut on the steam
until nearly across the trestle. that
the last of the cars to pass over the
trestle stopped about two car lengths
from the end; that 1t was not a heav-
lily loaded train; that there were
about 70 passengers; that there was
thirteen cars attached to the train ;
that stop was made at KnoX's sta
ton, one and one-fourth miles from
the fatal wreck
All of the witnesses agreed that
one of the cars, either a loaded coal
car or gondola, jumped the track
just before reaching the bridge II
was agreed among the witnesses that
II a heavily loaded car had Jumped
the track that It would have stopped
almost Immediately. 1t was brought
out that the crossties where the truck
left the track were not badly cut up.
Members OF the train crew, including
the engineer, fireman and conductor
said that the train had been care
fully inspected before the start was
made from Lancaster and that every
thing was found in good working
order.
Chairman Richards said that the
hearing was held under Section
2.071 OF the statutes of 1912, which
gives the commission the right to in
vestigate all wrecks on railroads
when there is a loss OF life, and
where the commission believes an in
vestigation to be necessary. The
hearing had been called to determine
the cause OF the wreck, said Chair
man Richards.
SAYS ROAD WAS IN GOOD
SHAPE.
P. w Hardin, for eleven years
roadmaster was the first witness to
be called by the commission. He
told OF the general condition of the
road, saying that there were three
section bosses, and that they work
ed from six to eight men in keeping
the roadbed in repair. He said that
the entire road from Lancaster to
Chester was in excellent condition,
and that the crossties and timbers in
the trestles were sound. He said
that he had inspected the trestle and
the road on Monday prior to the
wreck on Wednesday, and that he
found everything in first-class order
He brought out that the two wooden
approaches to the trestle were fifty
feet In length and that the iron span
was eighty feet. The last repairs