The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-03

OF tho railroads maia oihco today.
The new management is headed by
president Howard Elliott, who WAS
chosen to succeed Charles s. Mellon
when the latter was forced out because
OF the sharp criticism over the nu-
merous accidents on the railroad. Mr..
Eiliotts first official duty was the or
dering OF complete investigation OF
this latest disaster
Tho wreck was caused by the first
section OF the White Mountain Express
telescoping tho second section OF the
Bar Harbor Express, while the lat
ter train was just leaving = stop signal.
The Springfield division. on which
the catastrophe occurred. is not
equipped with block signals, but has
merely the old-fashioned banjo"
signals in place. These signals were
condemned year ago by the State
Railroad Commission. which ordered
block signals in their place.
Fog Obscurcd Signals.
me accident occurred in heavy
fog, and the engineer of the White
Mountain train. y. r. Miller declared
after the crash that he was unable to
! see the signal set against him. He was
immediately arrested.
Though Miller had been warned by
the railroad officials not to talk, he
made this statement:
- lwing To the fog, I was unable to
- cad the banjo signals along the rail
bead without Funning very close to
kkcn! We carlc TO the banjo signal "a
mile north or tho North Haven Station.
= fshicA was set against us imme-
Gatciy applied the emergency brakes.
tu, ;hc crash came before / could get
or the brakes. There was absolutely
no chance to stop
Spectators say that the White Noun
tain train WAS running az least forty
miles an hour when il hit tho train
ri ahead. The same spectators also say
that the naEman sent back from the
Ma Ilarbor Express went back such a
short distance that when the White
Mountain train dashed down he was
shle to warn two portcrs on the last
platform TO jump for their lives
q CnrS Arc of Wood.
4 In fixing the blame for the disaster.
Inspector Belnap Will look closely into
the signal system and this story about
the hagman.
The main reason for the heavy loss
Q; life was the fact that the last two
cars OF the Bar Harbor Express were
OF wood The mosul engine of the
White Mountain train tore through
these as Ii they We're so many boxes and
shattered them into kindling wood
Some parts OF the cars We're hurled 100
feet away. Some of the dead were
thrown nifty feet.
The passengers had no chance for
their lives. Except few who had
started to dress. they were in their
Lerths. the majority probably still
asleep They were crushed 10 death
as they slept.
1t was learned tonight that only
few hours before the wreck occurred
president Elliott had himself passed
over the Springfield Division.
President issues Statement.
He gave out this statement at the
general offices Of the line:
Il arrived in New Haven this morning
having come down from Kcene. "
H.. on a night train, passing over the
track where the awful accident of this
morning occurred My train was per-
laps two hours ahead of the wrecked
train. ! walked up about o'clock and
noticed the heavy fog, which always
makes every man in the service APP
Yrehensivc
The road has automatic block sig
nails OF what is called the banjo type,
which, when installed. were consid-
cred very satisfactory. Since then
other methods of signals have been de-
rised. and authority was given some
time ago to install the most modern
and improved signals between New
Haven and Springfield. Fifteen per
cent OF the new work is already done
and men and material ready for the
balance. which should be finished by
Every officer and employee on the
road is full of sorrow over the dread
.ul occurrence, and has sympathy for
Hose who are suffering themselves and
Tor saddened relatives and friends.
Every effort possible will be made
by the officers of the company to give
full information 10 the public authori-
ties and to the press of all facts that
may he developed in the investigation
now being held