Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-23
|. & N. OFFICIALS TAKE
WRECK RESPONSIBILITY
President Requests That Claims BE
Submitted ut Oncc and Bttiga.
ton Thus Avoided.
INVESTIGATIONS ARE BEGUN
Inquiry Into Causes Of Disaster
Started by Railroad-P M I S es
Made That All Details of Calan-
ity Shall Be Given.
tBy Associated press.I


LOUISVILLE, Ky" December 22.-
Milton II. Smith. president OF the
louisville and Nashville Railroad, in
signed statement to-day. not only
acknowledged legal responsibility of
the company for compcnsations for
DEATHS and injuries in Thursday
nights wreck at Shepherdsville, but
suggested that claims be submitted
TO committee and litigation avoided.
Eorty-scven persons were killed in
tho wreck and approximately thirty
five others more or less seriously in
jurcd.
The statement addressed to tho
public. calls the wreck the gravrst
catastrophe in the company's history,
deeply dcplores the deaths and in
juries. promises tho general public
shall know just how the calamity carnc
about, after complete investigation
has been made. and continues:
I'm the meantime. however, in order
that the Louisville and Nashville Rail-
road Company, which has never know
ingly contested a just claim. may do
what 1t can in the way Of compensation,
desire hereby to definitely acknowl-
edge legal liability in the case OF
death or injury to all passengers, and
to suggest a method of ascertaining
the amounts to which each is entitled.
| propose and request that the Hon.
a. O. Stanley. the Governor OF Ken
lucky. appoint committee Of three
men OF integrity and high standing,
one each from the Counties Of Bullitt,
Nelson and Washington, to whom shall
be submitted all claims. settlement of
which the company and the claimants
cannot agree upon, their decision to
be final.
This will save the claimants the
delay and expense of litigation, and
will insure a certain and just deter
mlnation OF their rights and will
guarantee receiving the full amount
awarded instead OF dividing 1t with
others. This proposition is not de-
pendent upon acceptance by oil claim
ants. but is open for three montRe to
all who may desire to avail them
selves of Il.
No NEWSPAPER MEN IN
INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION
AS the first OF three independent in
resttgatfons, an inquiry into the causes
leading up to the tragedy which cost
heavy loss OF lives when two Louis
Vile and Nashville passenger trains
collidcd at Shepherdsville, Ky, was
begun here to-day by w. T. Sheridan,
superintendent or tho Louisville di-
vision of the railroad.
Present at the inquiry in addition to
superintendent Sheridan were n num-
Der OF the higher officials Of the road.
wND taf 81
terstate Commerce Commission. Mr..
Sheridan announced last night no
newspaper men would be allowed to be-
present. B. M. Stark. general man
ager, indicated he believed the public
would be sufficiently represented by
the agents of tho Interstate Commerce
commission. The full facts in the case.
es revealed by the Investigation -
was promised. would be made public.
IN addition TO the inquiry into the
causes leading to the wreck. an in.
Ftstisation will be conducted bv q spe
c'nl grand jury. which Judge D. A.
McCandless. OF the Buliitt County Cir
cult Court announced last night he had
called To meet next Wednesday. Tho
State railroad commission will also
make an investigation
reports OF the disaster SO far give
no clear indication just where the re-
s1onsibiliiy for it lies.
According TO a statement made to
Coroner r. G. Sfasden by Jesse Weather
ford. operator at shephcrdsville, Con-
ductor MAYOR Campbell, who was
killed, talked to the dlspatcher's Of
fee over the telephone while his train
was halted at tho station. he is pre-
sumed to have received orders to take
a siding to allow the following train
10 pass. 1t was after the local left
the station and was preparing to back
into siding that The crash came.
No explanation OF why the fast train
following the local had been allowed
10 run SO close behind 1t has been
given. and nothing Is known Of Just
what orders tho conductor OF either
train carried.
FEW JAMESTOWN FAMILIES
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