The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-02-12
OFFICIAL PROBE BEGINS IN
TROLLEY CA R ACCIDENT

w. A. Root. c. & p. Conductor ]. ID.
Dooson. brakeman w. w. Ownes.
brakeman Earl Coen, Frank Keane
ana Conductor w. Z. Davis, who had
charge OF the Inflated car.
Conductor Testifies.
NO sensational testimony was in
troduced. the mos important, how
Davis. lie stated that he had been
employed by the Wheeling Traction
company for about three weeks. He
was promoted 10 conductor and worked
IN that capacity five days four of
which were under guidance. He stat
ed that IL was his third trip alone on
mat day when tie accident occurred.
He further stated that the car had
come to a stop at the derailer, and
that he (Davis) ran to the derailer
He stated that he stopped in the
middle of the track.
Il FIRST looked north" said
Davis, and then looked south.
and did not see anything. / then
went to tie derailer and looked
north and south. and not seeing
anything sight, grasped the de-
railer lever and signaled the mo-
torman start. When the car
was about half between tho rail-
road track and the derailer. first
observe u the headlight on the en-
CINE. Immediately released the
derai..r and held up my hands
and signaled the motorman 10
stop.
Puo to that time Davis stated he
did nc hear a whistle or bell
Rang Bell, Says Fireman.
no s BAKER, fireman on the engine
WhlCI struck the car. IN reply TO the
coroner questions, was positive that
the headlight was burning and that
The engineer blew the whistle for the
ere sing while the engine was passing
on the Nhlskey run bridge. lie
r. ted tnat he was ringing the bell
g. they approached the crossing and
rat they were running at the rate OF
y 10 10 miles an hour. lie stated that
while II was raining that the rain did
not Obstruct the view.
Engineer Root testified that he blew
the whistle at or near the Whisky
Run bridge. He also said that the
rain and sleet did not obstruct his
reflection OF the headlight on the trac-
ton car when about 100 feet from the
crossing When he saw the car sud
denly dash IN front OF him he applied
the emergency brakes and was in tbs
act Of reversing the engine when the
crash came. He was asked that from
his place tn the engine II be did not
have an unObstruCted view of the car
from a point 700 feet distant. Mr.
Root stated that from that distance
car on the switch could De seen. but
when if was standing az tho dcrail IN
could not bee seen owing 10 a hin or
hump about fifteen feet high. which
Ob-fructed the view.
Conductor Dobson practically testi-
fed along the same lines. and stated
he felt satisfied thar the crew and
especially the engineer has signaIed
no Tho proper places. The two brake
men Corroboratcd the testimony.
Interesting Points Arise.
An important point brought out yes
trrday was the time required for the
gu -'1c 20 run from the Whiskey Run
bridge 20 the crossing. the time re-
0u.r.d for The car 20 clear The CROSS
lfDr leaving Tho derail and tho
Tine J. took The conductor tO reach 10"
doraiIirg lever.
n was estimated that tho distance
from the crossing 10 tho VIII key Run
bridge g.. about $50 feet Running al
thr rate ~ FORTY miles am hour b. was
figured ffTf fFr engine could reach
Tho crossing iu seventeen seconds
from fhr NI. Fcr Run bridge stand.
iu2 no fh" d"raiIor DO was hrougt out
Lhnf 10 required Just fourteen seconds
Tor fh' car tu clear The crossing u
lI.0 require about fifteen .eronds
Tor tIn conductor fo reach fhp drraU-
ing lever from The rear end Of the
Ina much a- tho engineer claim. that
hc blew 'hr whistle af 0r near tho
VIII BOY RUN bridge. seventeen sec
und. before fns crash and Conductor
Davis stated chat ha dIl not hrIr tho
whistle. Hn important and interesting
rOIn' wa. brought out