The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-10-11
THE BLA...FooT ACCIDENT

Findings OF the board or inquiry
covering accident on Alice street
crossing, Blackfoot, Idaho, Septem.
Der IL, 1918.
Members Of the Board
H. d. MacCosham, representative
of the public, Blackfoot, Idaho; F
w. Rothas, train master o. s. L. r
r., Pocatello, Idaho; G. H. Baker
road foreman of engines 0. s. L. R
R., Pocatello, Idaho; L. Rasmussen
claims adjuster O. s. l.. R. R., Poca.
tello, Idaho.
Present
w. l.. Young, agent o. s. L. r. R..
Blackfoot, Idaho.
We, the undersigned, constituting
a board of inquirp, convened at
Blackfoot, Idaho, 1000 a. M, Sept
IS, 1918, for the purpose of deter
mining the cause and placing the re-
sponsibility for the accident which
occurred on Alice street crossing,
Blackfoot, Idaho, 3.53 p. M. Sep
TENDER IL, 1918, when Oregon Short
Line train No. 80 struck three child
rem on this crossing, resulting in the
death of David Leon Geddes, aged
three years and personal injuries to
Ines Vera Geddes, aged four years,
and Vera Maria England, aged five
years find as follows:
That, local extra 564 east, in
charge of P. G. Rosenberg, conduc-
tor, j. III. Burton, head brakeman, E..
b. Gayhart, swing brakeman,and E.
S. West, rear brakeman, J. G. Granz
engineer, and D. R. Wilmoth, fire.
man, was backing north with ten
cars on the west siding over Alice
street crossing. Just after engine
No. 564 cleared the south sidewalk
of the crossing, train No. SOS engine
passed over this sidewalk and the
three children, who were unattended,
bounded across the tracks and were
struck by train No. sos engine on
the main track, resulting in the death
of David Leon Geddes and seriously
injuring Ines Vera Geddes and Vera
Maria. England.
We further find that train No. 80,
consisting of engine 1882, mail car
1928, baggage car 1850, coach 698,
chair car 1880, coach 688. diner 213
and sleeper Matte, in charge of
H. w. Doty, conductor, James Will
Jams, fagman, F. w. Myers, engineer
and John Hester, fireman, on time
and running at speed of six to
eight miles an hour, had sounded
the crossing signal, two long and two
short blasts of the whistle, about
800 feet west of Alice street crossing,
and the engine bell was ringing. The
fireman, seated on the fireman's seat
box, looking out of the side window,
observed the three children ap-
preaching the track when they were
about ten feet away, and the engine
twenty feet from the children, and
called to the engineer to stop. The
engineer Immediately made emer-
5ency application of the air, but on
recount of the air having been used
almost continuously thru the yard
rom the station whistling post, and
he laving just started to release, to
irift to the passenger depot, was un-
lble to get the full emergency fea-
ure of the brakes The train stop
,ed about 200 feet from the cross
ng.
We further find that the conduc-
or and head brakeman of local ex-
"a 564 east. were in the east end of |
he yard waiting to line up the switch |
or their train to pull out Itch swing |
was riding on top Of box
ar, about half the distance of the
en- cars that they were, backing, to
ass signals to the engine crew; the
ear brakeman was riding on the
sading end of the first car to pro-
ect the movement over the crossing,
0 give any necessary signals and
lake the coupling to the rear por-
ion of train; the engineer was seated
n his seat in the cab on the right
lde of the engine, looking back in
he direction in which he was going;
he fireman was seated in the cab on
he left side Of the engine, and OBJ
erved the three children, an auto
lobile, and three men standing on
ne east side of the crossing waiting
cross when the crossing cleared.
The crossing Is protected by a
.andard crossing sign, located north
the street on the east side of the
'ack. The street crosses the track
right angles. The street and side
ak are paved and planked the fiji
idth. The -tracks era straight and
le grade level. The weather was
ear and calm.
Our conclusions are. after a care |
Il consideration Of the evidence, and
ewing scene of accident, that the ,
ain and engine crews of trains No.
and local extra 564 east were in
leir proper positions, performing
leir duties, and are in no way re-
'Onsible for the accident.
H. D. MacCOSHAM, IL
Representative of the Public. T
GEORGE H. BAKER,