Norwich bulletin., 1914-07-28
Signal Lights Could be Dimmed
SHOWN TO CORONER IN WEST
 PORT INVESTIGATION
3 TESTS WERE MADE
Witnesses Also Examined in Bridge port HospitaIs-AII But One Said Lights Were Dim Before Accident.

Westport, July 27.-It was dem- onstrated to Coroner John J. Phelan today that lights in the box signals on the trolley line going through this town could be extinguished momen- tarily by a drag upon the current due to many cars travelling through a block simultaneously. Three tests were made by direction of the coroner as part of his inquiry into the troll icy collision here last Wednesday At the hearing last week, some trolley employees on the cars which had been at the Country club signal box in the western part of the town claimed that the signal lights there were very dim while mOtOrmen and others who were at the Westport signal box claimed that the lights burned brightly Off, cials of the company claimed that op- eration of a number of cars in the block would not dim the light The that Coronel Phelan ordered a demon stration.
 On Third Test.
 On the third test this afternoon with seven cars climbing the State street Sgrade-up which grade went the freight car which hit passenger trol- ley 294 on Wednesday night-the lights in both signal boxes dimmed and then l for 15 seconds went out completely The extinguishment was two minutes l and 15 seconds after the seven cars left the signal box at Westport centre to climb the hill. On the previous | tests the lights had not been affected The third test showed that cars could be moving while the signal lights were out
 Superintendent Chapman of Bridge port stated to the coroner that the voltage of the current on the line was l the same as on Wednesday night.
 Inspector EIweII Surprised.
 Chief Inspector Elwell of the public | utilities commission and Coroner Phe- | Ian both expressed surprise that the lights were extinguished. The motor | men Of the cars testified that their ! cars were moving through the period | of the test and during the Is seconds when the lights in the signal boxes went out. The signals were observed | by the two officials at the same time | Superintendent Chapman, J. B. Pot | ter of the Norwalk division and others | observed the test Fred Andrews president of the Norwalk trolleymen's union. said that the tests made were severe ones.
 1 Coroner Phelan had planned to hold the tests early. but he had to wait | until nearly noon to secure conditions on the line as existed Wednesday night. The regular cars were running as then, and after the 11.30 regular | le1I QeIe Ino COnQlI1OnS were equal to those on the night of the collision
 It was stated that witnesses have been found and have been subpoenaeC who saw the signal lights at the time of the wreck, and who claim that they
 were extinguished for a short time.
 Examined Witnesses in Hospitals.
 Later in the day Coroner Phelar went to Bridgeport, where he exam ined eight witnesses, including severa
 of the injured in the hospitals. Witt
 one exception, they all testified tha
 the signal lights looked dim just be- fore the accident
 The exception was Mrs. Anna Hen
 kels, who was positive that the ligh
 was burning brightly. She referred
 the coroner to Mrs. Henry Mitchell
 who was on the same seat with he
 in the wrecked car. Mrs. Mitchell
 however, said the light was very dim
 Coroner Phelan said he would no
 resume his inquest for at least two
 weeks. and possibly later. He wants
 to consult electrical engineers, anC
 get expert opinion on the working
 of the signal system in use here b!
 the trolley company.