The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-21
MOTORMAN DECLARES
HE WAS UNCONSCIOUS
Did Not Apply Brakes Until Within
Car Length OF Virglnian Rail-
way Crossing.
Tie MAKES SWORN STATEMENT
Investigation Into Recent Wreck Near
Norfolk, Which Cost Lives OF Seven
People, Being Conducted by Inter-
state and State Commissions.
Especial to Tho Times-Dispatch.

statement made from his bed in ST
Sincents Hospital this afternoon. Mo-
torman w. Is. Atkinson declared he
lost consciousness just before reaching
tho Virginian Railway crossing. and
did not apply brakes or use reverse
emergency until within about car
length OF the passing freight train
into which his car crashed last Friday
morning. when seven people were
killed and cighty-nine injured His
statement corroboratcs testimony sub
United earlier In the day at the Joint
investigation intoi the cause OF the
Paramount Park grade crossing disas-
ter by Interstate Commerce and State
Corporation Commissions
The sworn declaration OF the in
Jured motorman was made shortly at
ter adjournment was taken By the in
NestiRation commit IS on this afternoon
and VIII be formally presented By the
virginia Railway and Power Company
Al an adjourned meeting tomorrow
morning, following a visit by members
OF the commission 10 the stricken mo-
torman at his room in the hospital
With all testimony offered durT@
the day agreeing In the main that
everything pointed 70 the theory that
tho motor cars had gone into the
freight train at "A terrific rate OF speed.
II but remained for the statement Of
Motorman Atkinson TO settle definitely
the question as to the cause OF the
wreck.
REVIEWS MOVEMENTS
DURING DAY OF JULY Is
After reviewing his movements dur
that he had been feeling badly, the
motorman's affidavit continues:
81 took the last half OF my run out
At S:36 J.. NJ, which was on the Old
Point line. ! worked on up. and while
felt little badly and little sick.
did not feel that there was any dan
ger III my condition at all.
We were due 10 leave willouRhby
Beach pier Al 1850 p NJ. We we're
about five minutes late leaving VIII
scngeTs at Ocean View lost about Ave
, ,n,n,tes more more; making US ahou, ten
y was running my car into town and
gave my crossing signals properly, and
cut on current and slowed down in
and ! remember distinctly blowing my
crossing signals for simpsons Cross
ing: which is located between one
eighth and one fourth OF a mile north
OF the Virginia Railway crossing
remember doing this distinctly.
and reniember shutting OF my cur
rent At simpsons Crossing
From this time. for some reason I
snow not why. lost consciousness
u!ntii was about a car length from the
Nirglnian Railway crossing. when I re
gained CONSEQUENCES and saw the train
crossing ahead Of me and the signals
displayed sga!ns, me
Il reversed then. but, Of course. II
was TOO late TO do any. good. and we
struck the N!rginlan hallway train.
After the impact found myself pinned
under the motor car ana after other
people were rescued vas taken out
The total time ! was unconscious be-
fore the collision could not have been
INSEsTIGATIoH WILL
NE CONCLUDED TO-DAY
~ is expected that the investiga ton
VII be concluded AT a brief morning
session tomorrow, and Judge Rhea,
representing the State commission. will
p'oba bly, return to Richmond to-mor
row afternoon.
That the lights were burning and III c
Sates closed against the trains OF the
Virginia Railway and Power Company
AT the time OF the collision between
motor car 200. OF that company. and a
coal train on the Nirg!nian Railway al
ne crossing OF those two roads in
inony Of the Witnesses who appeared
today at the joint investigation Into
the cause Of the wreck
MI or tho witnesses put on tho stand
by the NirSinian Railway Company
testified that tho lights were burning
and bright: ana that the gates were
Railway and Power Company's cars
w. IL. Ncnabie, general counsel for the
traction company. stated that there
VAS no contention on that point and
that no evidence was TO be introduced
TO contradict that phase OF the affair.
witnesses also testified that the Vir-
crossing just prior to the accident. and
that the motor car OF the Virginia
Hallway and Power Company did not
.iaSken It's its, speed from the time il
until 1t crashed into the coal cars
accompanying the report OF the in
yestigation by r. r. Gum. general SUI
and Power Company, was a statement
from W. w. wiliiford. night dispatche r
for that company. that Motorman At
July is for permission to lay off a day.
but that he told him he could get of
ed to. Mr. wniiford said he heard he r. an no
more from Atkinson until after the
accident.
RULES MCGUIRE Cans
II was brought out in the statements
by Mr.. Gum that the rules OF the trac-
at the Virginian hallway crossing. but
do not require the conductors TO flag
the cars. because of the protection
given by tho gates, which the Vir-
gilman Railway was under obligation
to maintain.
When Inspector Adams. of the Inter
Gum how ne accounted for the acci-
dent. declaring that he wanted the
facts in order to place the blame where
II nroperly belongs. and Mr.. Gum had
must have been temporarily insane to
do such thing, Mr.. Adams said:
II want to congratulate you for tina Il
splendid report. and want to compli-
ment and thank the traction compa ny
FOR it's frankness in this matter
ThoHe Present.
Judge William Rhea. OF the State
Corporation Commission, presided
Those who conducted the investigation
were; a. II, Adams and James F.. John
son. inspectors OF the Interstate Com
merce Commission. Those present
were: Thomas s. Wheelwright, prcsi.
dent: G. B. Buchanan. general mana
ger; r. t. GuEn, general superinten-
dent; w. H. Vcnable. general attorney:
u. w. Milford. general claim agent; 4.
Tauman, general superintendent OF
rolling stock. and G. II. Cubberiy, claim
agent. all officials of tho traction com :
Dany. James Berlingett. assistant gen
ernl manager, and George Reith. super
intenGent. of the Virginian Railway,
or OIL the train Of that company, into
and Power Company coilided: J. l..
ivey.. engineer; r. a. Knox, conductor:
9. w. Breedlove. fireman. and Brake,
men Simmons and Pritchford