Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1919-09-19
FINDINGS OF BOARD OF
INQUIRY AT SODA SPRINGS


The board of inquiry which was
calieo 10 investigate the accident at
Soda Springs. Idaho, on September
6, 1919, convened at Soda Snrjnea
on the morning OF September 8. The
Doard was composed OF James M.
horseley OF Soda Springs, represent
ing the public and the followjng NJ
tlcials OF the Oregon Short Line Rail
ROAD company: l.. G. Sloan of Mont
peiier, assistant superintendent: Ira
Meredltn, OF Pocatello, road foreman
OF engines and l.. Rasmussen of Po-
catello, claims adjuster. After hear
ing all OF the evidence and viewing
.ne crossing and surroundings, the
BOARD made the following findings:
That Train No. IL. consjstine 80
engine No. 1871 and nine cars mas
senger equipment, in charge ~ r. d
JAWS, conductor r. e. Dillon head
brakeman. X. A. Finley. fIagman, b.
=. Fitzpatrick, engineer, and ]. T.
Brown. fireman, struck a Ford au,o'
monlIe, Idaho 1919 dealers license
No. 302. on crossing No i1s g.
known as Third East street soda
Springs, Idaho, about 6:27 n m Sen
TENDER 9Th, 1919. In the macbina
when struck were William EdwarS
Donohnes the owner and driver. and
his son Edward Roycroft Donobna
the FORMER was fatally injured ana
the machine entirely demoliahad
Inc testimony of the train and en-.
CINE crews show that train No ~
was three hours and ~ minutes late
running on straight track descard'
ing grade. speed about 90 miles ner
n0uE. AnnFnaChfno
passing Strachan, about one mile east
and train came onto straight tracI
whistle was souded for a croasIn .
one-half mile east of Third Eaaf a.
which was followed by a atatioyt
whistle. and this by another crossing
whistle about one-Quarter mile east
OF the crossing on which the aeciden,
occurred. The bell was starred
abut one-eighth of a mile from ana
continued ringing until the croasin .
was passed. The fireman of No ~
states that he was keeping a contir.
ued lookout ahead and that when the
engine was about eighty feet from
the crossing he observed an ante
mobile approaching from the south
or left hand side, about forty feat
from the track. II was moving at q
speed of about fifteen miles per hour
and seeing that the drivers attention
was directed in the opposite direction
apparently to train extra 6O3 east
which was moving eastward along the
passing track, north OF the main
track, west OF the crossing" he called
TO his engineer to stop. He contin-
ued TO watch the automobile ana
states that when II was about fif
teen feet from the track the driver
turned his head and looked toward
the engine of train No. II, and on
seeing II tried TO bring his machine
to standstfll, but was unable TO do
so before the front wheels of autnmo
bile were on the south rail and he
again called to the engineer. at which
time the collision occurred. At no
ime did the engineer see the auto
mobile before II was struck, his view
was obstructed by the front end OF
the boiler Of the engine. Engin-
eer was keeping look out ahead and
upon hearing the fireman call look
ed over 20 his side. and at the same
time felt the engine strike something
when an immediate heavy service APP
plication of brakes was made and
brought the train to a stop.
The train and engine crew OF ex-
ira sos East testify that their train,
the local eastward freight" had
completed its station work and was
on the passing track to meet No. II.
The engine. while train standing. was