New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1916-09-09
BOARD OF INQUIRY REPORT.
Morgan's Louisiana & Texas R.
r. and S. s. COMPANY.

"NS', oluC tolltSi'ii NtdiIi
err conditions, unusually hcavs
ram; Kind Of train involved, pas
senger and freight; Passenger
Train No. 1O2, Engine No. 907
East, Speed % miles per hour
Freight-EXtra, No. 1867, West
speed, 8 miles per hour; Damage
100000. track 5000, clearing
wreck $4,000, total $3.50 90
Casualties to persons: Five pas
scngers, two train employees, two
dining car employees and one Pull
man porter slightly injured. The
undersigned. constituting a Board
OF Inquiry, convened at New Ibe-
ria, La. August Goth, 1916, for
the purpose Of determining cause
of and responsibility for above
accident. finds: (Give: !. Cir
cumstances; 2, Opinion, as to re
sponsibility; 3, Recommends
tions.)
!. Extra 1867 West, SO loads
and IS emptics. in charge of Con-
ductor AIOnzo and Engineer Will
kins. arrived at New Iberia at
3 :36 p. NJ. engine took water and
train proceeded to crOss-over
about one mile West Of New Ibe-
ria and backed over on Eastward
main track to let No. 7 pass. No.
Z left New Iberia at 4 :05 Z. NJ.
and passed extra 1867 one mile
west about 4:0S =. M. Extra
1867 Immediately started to head
through crOss-Over to westward
track and when train had moved
n distance Of about 500 feet, or 20
car lengths, was sideswiped 10y
No. 1O2, engine 907, in charge OF
Conductor Rousseau and Engi-
neer Landry, travelling at a speed
of approximately Is miles per
hour, turning engine completely
over and slightly damaging,
but not derailing, baggage car.
The first eight cars beyond point |
of collision in extra 1867 turned
over, four being completely des-
troved and four badly damaged.
investigation develops that
Brakeman w. Lauman who was
breaking ahead and whose duty
it was to protect his train when
occupying eastward track against
current of traffic, secured red
flag from fireman and extra 1867
and proceeded westward but
failed to provide himself with or
place torpedoes on rail in &C.
cordance with rule SO. AT the
time brakeman Lauman started
,ut to flag it had just commenced
10 rain and when at a point 2,1OO
feet, by actual measurement, he
vas seen by resident eye witness
10 violntly flag with red flag
rain No. 1O2 which was ap-
preaching at a high rate of speed
n a heavy downpour of rain. He
to flag until engine
vas almost upon him, stepped off
rack and continued to flag un-
il train passed out of sight.
Further inquiry developed that )
leither Engineer Landry or Fire
nan Berry on train 1O2 observed
top signal given by flagman, nor
vas it acknowledged. Their evil
hence is to the effect that they
loticed head end Of extra 1867
vhen passing and as sufficient :
ime had not elapsed, after meet I
ng No. Z, for train to have fol- o
owed No. 7 from New Iberia, G.
therefore, must have used the p
rest cross-over to let No. Z pass. a
ir was applied and speed re- D
uced to about 25 miles per hour II
hen side collision occurred. n
'ngineer Wilkins in charge of o.
xtra 1867 noticing speed train tf
o. 1O2 was travelling, knew that ="
'ain had not been properly d.
jagged and sounded one long II
last of whistle when engine of q
o. 1O2 was passing. He further 81
ates that fire was flying from la
rake shoes on train 1O2 when 81
assing his engine. IN
2. 1t is the opinion of this al al
GARD that Brakeman w. Lauman ~
directly responsible for acct ~
mt in that he failed to provide "
mself with proper tagging ~
lnipment. supply of which was Il
'ailable on engine 1867, when he 10
ent out to protect his train ''
hich had been backed over or AZ
track against current cf W