South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-09-03
DISREGARD US. ORDERS
IN BURNING WRECKAGE
Inquest Develops Signals Were
Set, But Useless in Fog
Passenger Charges Brake
man With Neglect-Death
List Reaches Fl.

NEW HAVEN, Conn, Sept s.
With total of twenty-one dead, four
Of them unidentified, the bodies being
scattered among a number of under
taking establishments OF this city, fif-
teen injured remaining in the local
hospitals and a score or more of other
injured persons either gone to their
homes or being treated elsewhere in
vestigations were begun today of the
frightful wrck on the New Haven
road. above North Haven yesterday,
when the heavily loaded White Noun
tain express dashed into the second
section of the Bar Harbor express,
creating the worst of the numerous
cataStrophes laid at the door of the
New Haven
Engineer Augustus B. Miller, of the
White Mountain express and fiagman
Charles Henry Murray Springfield, are
locked up without bonds at police
headquarters by the orders of Coroner
Eli Mix, who, in accordance with his
custom OF many years, is holding a
secret inquest into the cause OF the
awful toll Of dead and injured.
Coroner Continues Inquest.
After spending much time at the
scene OF the wreck yesterday, the cor
oner continued his inquest in the Of
fees of the New Haven road here in
company with the railroad officials and
Chief Engineer Ellwood of the Con-
necticut utilities commission.
Newspaper men were permitted to
hear the preliminary testimony which
was gathered by the railroad men by
the questioning of the coroner, En-
,ineer Elwell and railroad officials
In direct contrast to the proceed
ings held following the two fatal
wrecks at Saugatuck and Stamford,
was this convening in New Haven
county. Each Connecticut county cor
oner is the sole judge of whether the
investigation of death shall be in Sc
cfet or public inquest. Coroner Mix
adheres to the ancient custom Of in
terrogating his witnesses In secret.
Strong pressure was being brought to
bear on him today to admit the public
through the newspaper to his inquiry,
in order that the full and unbiased
facts concerning this, the worst wreck
in the long history of disasters on the
New Haven road, might be given to
the people. 1t was remembered this
morning that states Atty. Arnon A.
Alling. to whom Coroner Mix makes
his report, might demand a public in
vesugation.
Burned Wreckage.
Chief Inspector II. X. Belknap and
four field commissioners of the inter
state commerce commission who ar
rived last night were surprised that
in direct disobedience OF orders from
Washington, the New Haven road had
burned the chief part of the wreckage
at North Haven.
The debris. consisting largely of the
remains of the wooden coaches. were
gathered together by the railroad
wrecking crews and consigned to the
fire within a few hours after the
wreck occurred.
Commissioner McChord, ii was
learned from the inspectors, would ar
rive some time today. and pending his
arrival no comment was made by the
inspectors on the action of the road
in burning of wreckage
In the belief Of those who have
CLEANED from the stories of passen-
gers and trainmen something of the
facts Oconcerning the cause OF the
frightful collision, the entire question
of responsibility will hinge on the run
ming OF fast through trains over the
division between New Haven and
Hartford equipped with signal sys-
tenn condemned months ago as faulty
and ordered replaced.
Signals Set But Useless.
Flagman Murray's signals were un-
doubtedly set but were absolutely use
less according to the testimony as the
approaching train was down upon
him with the block even as he set his
torpedoes The charge tentatively
laid against him is that he failed to
set off a Coston signal. as it is claim
ed was his duty in the fog which pre-
vailed.
That Engineer Miller received
warning that he was closely following
the Bar Harbor train at Meriden, be-
yond the scene Of the accisedt, is the
evidence of Lawyer c. J. Ranaher OF
that city, who yesterday told OF near
ing two trains pass his home ana
hearing the White Mountain express
explode two torpedoes Of warning.
The evidence OF L. q. Morse, OF Chi
cago, a passenger on the Bar Harbor
express. is a severe arraignment OF the
trainmen in charge OF that train. Mr..
Morse says emphatically that the
brakes on the Bar Harbor express
were set at the time the wreck oc-
CURED Having been brakeman on
the Boston & Maine road at one time.
he lost no time when the train stop
ped in getting of 10 see what the
cause of the stop.
Charges Brakemen With Neglect.
At this time. he says. he saw the
brakeman. who he supposed was the
fla gnnan standing at about the thir-