Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1916-12-08
REPORT OF BOARD OF INQUIRY

REPORT OF BOARD OF INQUIRY
Findings of Board OF Inquiry con-
vened at Montpelier, Idaho, at IL
a. M. November 26th. 1915, for the
purpose OF investigating cause and
placing responsibility for accident
resulting In injuries to Brakeman
william Henry Noble at Dingle, Ida
no, about 12:45 a. m, November "a,
1916.
We, the undersigned, convened as
Board of Inquiry at Montpelier.
Idaho, November 26th, 1915, at IL
a. M, for the purpose of determin-
ing cause and placing responsibility
for the above entitled accident.
Find: That train extra west,
consisting of engine 25O9. sixty-six
single-deck stock cars and refriger-
ator cars, approximately 1860 tons.
in charge of Conductor Fred J. Rich
ards, Head Brakeman James Orr.
Rear Brakeman William H. Noble.
Engineer Hyrum Burton and Fire.
man George Gidney, after having suf-
ficient rest, were called and left
Green River, Wyoming. about 3:16I
D. M, November 23rd, 1918. That at
CokeviIle, Wyoming, Conductor
Richards received two orders to pick
up five cars on the passing track at
Dingle. That on arrival at Dingle
the train was stopped on the west
ward main line the engine was cut
off by Brakeman Orr and backed In
and coupled onto these cars, which
were standing at the east end of the
passing track, and pulled out on the
main line, running at a speed OF
about four miles per hour. As the
engine and five cars passed over the
switch Brakeman Orr got off and
aligned the switch and started back
| to the head end OF the train, which
was standing about five car lengths
from the switch, and while walking
back he found Brakeman lying, un-
conscious, and apparently seriously
! injured, between the rails OF the
westward main track about one car
length from the head end OF the
| train.
We further find that when the
cars on the passing track were
coupled onto, Brakeman Noble was
last seen by Conductor Richards
riding on the fifth or last car from
the engine, which was an empty flat
car. There were no eye witnesses
to the accident, and II is presumed
that as this car passed the head end
OF the train he got Off between the
main line and the passing track to
make the coupling when the engine
and cars came back onto the train.
and in 30 doing either slipped and
fell or struck the head car Of his
train which was standing on the
main line and fell back under the
l 1dk he M AnnnA
| found on the oil box bolts of the
inside pair OF wheels on the rear
truck on the south side OF the car.
At the point where Brakeman No
BILE was found the main line "a
straight track and the passing track
Is straight to the east, but to the
west 1t commences to curve toward
the main line. The track is gravel
ballasted, up level with the tops of
the ties, with standard clearance,
with nothing over which he could
have stumbled or fallen. Inspec-
ton of the cars and equipment at
the time, and later, showed they
were In good condition and conform
ed to the rules of the Safety Appli-
! ance Act. The deck of the flat car
on which Brakeman Noble was last
seen, by Conductor Richards was
partly covered with pieces of timber,
gravel and cinders, but this, we be-
lieve, in no way contributed to the
accident. The weather was clear,
cold and frosty, with no wind blow
ing.
After hearing all the testimony,
weighing and Analysing same care
fully, we conclude: That the Oregon
| Short Line Railroad company Is in
no way responsible for the accident,
the members of the train and engine
crew were in their proper places and
attending to their duties and no
blame attaches to them. As O mat
ter of precaution Brakeman Noble
should have gotten off the train or
car on the opposite side.
J. s. ROBBINS,
| Representing the Public.
| ]. r. DAVIS,
/ Train Master, First Division
| III. CRANE.