The Washington herald., 1919-08-26
USE OF WOOD CARS
AGAINST THE RULES
OFFICIAL DECLARES
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

OoNI1NOf2p rfCDh fAGD ONE
have no advices from the railroad
officials directly concerned.
There are train inspectors at all
starting points whose duty it is to
see that such violations of rules are
not allowed" Mr.. Claggett continued,
but we are by no means sure that
there was faulty inspection of the
train in question. As l have said,
we have no direct information con-
cerning the wreck. nor will we have
until a report has been made upon
the investigation authorized by this
office.
Same Inspectors Used
The inspection of trains, tracks.
etc. is carried on through the chan
nels of the railroad officials directly
COnCerned-in many cases, inspectors
being the ones who served before the
roads passed into governmental con-
troll This office has no connection
with the work Of inspection. which.
so far as l know. has not been ma
terially changed by the Federal man
agement.
We are fully convinced" Mr. Ctag-
EFT said decisively. that the engineer
OF the second section disregarded the
signals placed for him. In the density
Of the fog, il might have been pos
sible to miss the bonfire and the flags,
as he asserts. But he was also warn
ed by the small explosive bombs
placed on the tracks. The report
made by these signals, as the engine
wheels pass over them. is too loud to
at
No New Instructions.
In response to a question as to
whether any orders concerning more
careful inspection of trains, or con-
cerning the use OF rolling stock that
violates regulations. had been issued
as a result of the wreck, Mr.. Clagett
said:
This office has issued no orders or
instructions on those matters. The
only step We have considered it ad-
Yisable to take in the matter was TO
authorize the careful investigation
which is now being made. through
the Railroad ADMINISTRATORS safety
section in conjunction with the Inter
state Commerce Commission and al
so with the Board of Public Utilities
Commission of New Jersey. Just now
We cannot place the blame; it has
been ascribed variously to the engi-
neer of the ramming train, to the
failure of the block signals. to the fog,
to the carelessness of inspection None
OF these causes are definitely eStab-
Hshed. We are concentrating all our
activities in the case upon the in
vestigation."
Director Hines Statement.
Walker d Hines, Director General
OF Railroads, issued this statement:
Il am distressed beyond measure
over the wreck at Elwood, \. J.,
yesterday. An immediate investiga-
tiOn is being arranged. Special in
qUiry will be made into every phase
Of the occurrence to ascertain the
cause and locate and deal with the
responsibility.
THE inquiry will relate not only
to the causes Of the wreck itself, but
also to the claims Of incouveniences
to which passengers on the wrecked
train were subjected, and as to the
responsibility therefor. The public Is
entitled to and will be given the full
lest information as TO the facts"
Most of the WashingtOnians who
were passengers on the wrecked
train have returned to Washington
City hospital: George Seitz 1852
Maryland avenue northeast, and
Ralph Townsend. engineer, of Cam
den, y. J. Miss Jenny Cassidy,
1915 X street northwest, left to-
day.
%Believes Engineer Slept"
From the theories concerning the
wreck coming from varied sources
Coroner Charles Cunningham, Of
Hammonton. y. J.. who is conducting
an inquiry. furnished one yesterday
that stands out prominently.
He declared his opinion that En-
Cineer Townsend was either asleep
at the time of the snashup or mapping
OF the job"
Coroner Cunningham went to At
Iantic City yesterday afternoon to en-
panel his jury. The first session of
the inquest will be held Thursday.
In various interviews with pas
sengers who returned to their
homes yesterday, it was established
that the Washington specials were
without lights, and that a panic
was narrowly averted at the time
Of the crash.
Some of the Investigators.
The investigating commission
from Camden. y. j.. sent by the
Railroad Adminitration. IS COM
posed Of Supt. +. J. CleaNr, char
man. \. II. Rudd, signal engineer,
W. q. CouEhlin. chief engineer Of
maintcnanCc-Of-wa and William
Elmer. superintendent of the Phila-
delphia division.
Prosecutor Z. c. Gaskin, jr.. of
Atlantic City. is compiling evidence
for the State. According to infor-
nation gathered by Mr.. Gaskill, it
is charged that the crash would
have been Of trivial consequence
had the coaches which were struck
been built of steel They would
have easily withstood the compare
lively light shock. Mr.. Gaskcll
claims, which caused the crumplinG
Of the old type of wooden coaches.
TRIMMED TELEGRAPH NEWS.