The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-09-14
NO BLAME ATTACHED TO
J, o. s. L. OR TRAIN CREW IN
DEATH OF LARS p. NELSON

I -
! DEATH OF LARS p. NELSON
| Findings of the board of inquir,
convened at Blackfoot, Idaho. II a
m. September 7, 1917, for the pur
pose of investigating accident OF
Sam Rich road crossing about one
half mile north of the freight depot
at Blackfoot, Idaho, 3.42 p. M, Sep
tember g., 1917, wherein Mr.. Lars
Peter Nielsen was killed, one horse
killed, one horse injured and wagon
demolished:
Members of board: R. N. West
, representing the public, Blackfoot
Idaho; F. w. Rothas, train master
Pocatello, Idaho; G.. H. Baker, road
foreman of engines, Idaho Falls
Idaho; James McGonigle, road
master, Pocatello, Idaho; L. Ras.
mussen, claims adjuster, Pocatello
idaho.
We, the undersigned, convened as
board of inquiry in the above en-
titled case, after listening to the
testimony of all available witnesses,
nnd as follows:
That train No. 80, consisting of
engine 1873, mail car 2319, baggage
car 1S4S, smoking car 704, chair
car 1928, coach 664, diner 21O, and
sleeper Hampden, in charge of John
j. Burns, conductor; Clarence l..
Kelly, brakeman; Wesley L. LaCour,
hagman; Frank w. Myers, engineer;
and Philip Tout, fireman; collided
with team of horses and rear run
ming gear of farm wagon, resulting
in fatal injury to Lars Peter Neil
sen, killing of one horse, injuring
the other, and entirely demolishing
the wagon, on Sam Rich road cross
ing, about one-half mMe north of
freight depot, Blackfoot, Idaho, at
3,42 I'm, September 6, 1917.
Further, we find that the train
was of standard equipment with air
brakes in good working order. 1t
was running about Is minutes late
at{a$speed of about 20 miles an hour
on Araight track, slightly descend.
ing grade. When about one-half
mile from the crossing, station
whistle, one long blast was sounded,
followed by two short blasts in
answer to signal from trainmen call
ing attention to meeting point with
train No. Al. When passing the
crossing (X) whistling board about
of mile from the cross
ing, two long and two short blasts
of the engine whistle was sounded.
The engine bell, operated by an au-
tomato bell ringer, was started ring
ing at the north switch at the sugar
factory siding about three-quarters
Of mile from crossing and continu-
ed ringing until after the crossing
was passed. AS the train neared
the crossing the fireman, from whose
side the team approached, first OBJ
served it about so feet from the
track at which time it was slowing
down from a slow trot to walk,
and it appeared as If going to stop.
The engine at this time was about
200 feet from the crossing. AS the
team came nearer the track, the
fireman realized it would likely at
tempt to cross ahead of the engine
and called to the engineer to stop |
when the engineer Immediately made
application of the air
brakes which brought the train to a
stand still in a distance aof about $50
'eet.
Further, we find that this crossing
s protected by a standard crossing
ign located on the west side Of the
rack north of the roadway in con-
picuous place; station and crossing
posts are in their proper
laces The crossing Is planked full
yidth of roadway in good serviceable
The approach to the
rossing commencing at the right-of-
ray fence on the east, 130 feet from
he center of the track, is gradual
ncline rising about one foot with !
good surface. The view to the Z
orth, from which direction the +
rain was coming, on any point on
he roadway 130 feet from the i
enter of the crossing is clear and q
and an approaching i
ain is in plain sight for at least
ne-half mile. The weather was n
ear and a brisk southwesterly
reeze was blowing.
We, therefore, conclude, after con-
dering the evidence carefully, and a
ewing scene of accident, that the a
ain and engine crews were in their +
.oper places, attending to their d
titles, and no blame attaches to a
lem or to the Oregon Short Line s
abroad company.
r. N. WEST,
Representing the Public,
F. w. ROTHAS,
Train Master, a
GEO. H. BAKER, G
Road Foreman Engines, n
JAMES MCGONIGLE, n
pood Mo ctor