The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1916-02-04
GARv|N CHILDREN MEET
WITH FATAL ACC|DNNT
ON RAILROAD


by the west bound Pony at the Union
Stock Yards crossing one mile east
of town. The yonger girl received in
juries which resulted in her death al
a Boise hospital Saturday. The Older
girl received serious injuries but it is
hoped they will not prove fatal.
The accident happened during bad
wind and snow storm which obstruct-
ed the view of the track. The coron-
er's jury which investigated the acct
dent held that the railroad company
was negligent in certain particulars
The investigating committee which in
vestigated the accident Saturday held
that the railroad company was in no
wise to blame for the sad affair.
The pony train leaving Boise Fri
day morning was 20 minutes late. The
accident occurred about 8:45. The
horse which the children were driving
WAS killed outright. The cart was
completely demolished.
The injured girls, under the care of
the railroad company's surgeon, DR..
Miller of Caldwell, were rushed to the
hospital at Boise. 1t was feared from
the first that the life of the younger
girl could not be saved. Both hips
were crushed and she was injured in
ternally. Mary Garvin, who is sixteen
years old, received a broken collar
bone and wrenched back. Her con.
dition is reported satisfactory with
good chances of recovery.
Inquiry Board Meets.
An investigating committee consist
ing of a representative of the public
and railroad officials went over the
scene of the accident Saturday in an
effort to determine who. if anyone
was at faul Their complete report
follows:
We the undersigned, convened as a
board of inquiry at Caldwell. Idaho,
2 p. m. January %. 1916, for the pur-
pose of investigating and placing re-
sponsibility of accident on Union
Stock Yards crossing about one mile
east of Caldwell station about 8:4o
a. m, January 20. 1916, resulting in
injuries to Mary and Genevieve Gar
vim, ages 16 and Is, the killing of the
horse and destruction of vehicle. find
that train No. IS, Conductor Jas.
Coughlin, Brakeman ]. L. Kinney, En-
gineer w. L. Ward. Fireman Frank
Hayes, consisting of engine 1886, COM
bination mail and baggage car 533,
steel coaches GA and Sc and dining
car Eli; all equipped in good con-
dition, was approaching at a speed of
from rs to 80 miles an hour. when it
struck horse and two-wheel cart, oc-
cupied by Mary and Genevieve Car
vim.
The testimony of the crew shows
that train was running at speed OF
rs to 80 miles an hour. that crossing
whistle was sounded at crossing board
about one-fourth mile east, and engine
bell was being rung approaching
crossing. One witness standing about
100 feet south of the crossing testi-
fes he did not hear the train whistle
or the bell ring and that he first saw
the train about 200 feet from the
crossing.
with brisk wind blowing toward the
approaching train. The accident oc-
Cured on straight track on a slightly
the railroad track at right angles and
crossing is protected by standard
crossing sign.
The view of the occupants of the
vehicle was obstructed by the stock
yards and loading chutes on the left
until they reached point rs feet from
the center of the main line. The We
hicle approached from the right hand
side of the train. the horse was on
slow trot and occupants of the rig
wrapped in winter clothing with
large wagon umbrella used as a top,
evidently did not hear or see the ap-
preaching train.
After viewing scene of accident and
from the evidence submitted by the
witnesses examined. this board finds
that the employees of the Oregon Short
Line railroad were in their proper
places and performing their duties in
the regular manner and that they are
in no way responsible for this acct
dent.--Jas. Harris, representative of
the public; Chas. E. Brooks. assistant
superintendent; R. E. Titus. chief dis
patcher; L. Rasmussen. claims ad-
juster; R. Farrar, agent; F. A. Purdy.
assistant signal supervisor.
Hearing Before Coroner.
County Coroner A. A. Faris sum-
moned jury Sunday and investigated
the accident by visiting the scene and
examining the witnesses. The cor
oner's jury held that the railroad COM
pany was guilty of negligence to some
extent. The coroner's jury was COM
posed Of the following citizens of this
city: T. M. Nichol. Frank Holgate,
Lem Harding. Joe Dickens, r. ST.
Madden. Isaac Jones, June Grimes,
Sam Vassar and William Johnson.
County Attorney Griffiths conducted
the examination and inquest before
Coroner Faris.
The negligence which the Coroner's |
jury held the railroad company guilty |
of was in not having a warning signal |
at this particular crossing. The jury
spent five hours in taking the testi- |
mony.
Boys Warning Fails.
Robert Hutchins. l6-year-old |
school boy. had crossed the tracks at
the Twenty-6rst street crossing just
ahead of the Garvin sisters. He testi-
he'd to seeing the danger into which
the. young women were driving, and
said he called to them. 1t is improb-
able that his warning could have saw
ID them even had they heard it, but
hey seemed not to have heard. Hut
:hins testified that the engineer sound.
ID blast of the whistle when within
90 feet of the crossing.
Engineer Ward testified that he
'ulled the whistle cord at the same