The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1919-05-22
AUTO STRUCK AT R. R.
CROSSING
Car of A. L. Parker Damaged by
Switch Engine-Occupants
Escape

0An automobile driven by A. L.
Parker, a saw filer at the mill, was
struck by P. V. engine at the Wash
ington street crossing Monday dur
ing the noon hour. Riding in the car
with Mr.. Parker were A. J. Colvin
and H. Widsteen. Both men jump
ed and escaped injury. Mr.. Parker
suffered painful bruises. The car was
damaged to some extent.
At the time of the accident, Mr..
Parker and his companions were GO
ing to their homes in Riverside ad-
dition for lunch. AS the auto was
about to cross the railroad tracks, the
approach of the P. " engine was OBJ
served. Seeing that he could not
make the crossing, Mr.. Parker swung
his car to the west to turn around,
and called on his companions to jump.
The engine struck the rear of the
auto, threw it against the switch stand
with force enough to break it off,
and then into the switch shanty,
which was pushed about six feet west
by the force of the impact. All three
occupants jumped from the car. Mr..
Parker was the only one injured.
An investigation by the railroad
company to determine the cause and
placing the responsibility for the ac-
-cident was held yesterday, at the close
of which the following report of find
ings was made. The board was COM
posed of John McNish, representing
the public; w. C. Illingsworth of Poca-
tello, w. T. Ennis, trainmaster of
Nampa; ]. E. Wilcox, claim adjuster
of Salt Lake City, representing the
o. S. L.:
Findings
That train No. 377, engine 1548 in
charge of Conductor J. F. Whalen,
Engineer ]. E. Hutchinson, Fireman
r. Colson, Brakeman C. B. Cody and
Brakeman Frank R. Muter left Pay
cite 7:45 A. NJ. and arrived at EN-
NETT at 1000 A. M. After putting
train away turning engine and coaches
on the wye, the crew went for lunch.
They returned about II noon to re-
sumo their work doing station switch
ing. About 1910 engine showed two
cars behind it over Washington street
crossing into west end Compass dir
ection) of team track where five other
cars were coupled onto. The engine
coupled to seven cars, loads and 8
empties proceeded westward toward
main line. AS the engine started
ahead engineer sounded regulation
crossing whistle, when engine was
about cars lengths from crossing and
the fireman occupying his customary
position by sitting on his seat box
started the engine bell ringing four
car lengths before reaching crossing
Both the engineer and fireman were
keeping vigilant lookout ahead upon
approaching the crossing. When the !
engine was about so feet from cross
ing and while running at about miles |
per hour the fireman first observed |
this auto approaching track from the |
south and about 25 feet from track at |
which time he called to engineer to |
"hold her" and the engineer immedi- |
ately applied both the automatic and |
independent brakes into emergency |
and reversed the engine, but was un-
able to stop the train before engine
struck automobile. The engine ran
about SO feet after striking automo-
bile
Peerless automobile, license No. |
30306, model No 54, 1915, being driven
north on Washington street was oc-
cupied by A. L. Parker, driver and
owner, and Mr.. A. ]. Colvin, sitting
in front seat and to the right of the
driver and Mr.. H. Widsteen occupying
scar seat. The auto approached the
track at a speed, according to the
evidence, between and Is miles.
None of the occupants of auto OBJ
served approaching engine until auto
was about II feet from track, at
which time engine was from Is to 20
feet east of crossing, whereupon Mr..
Parker applied the foot brake of auto,
but was unable to stop. When the
auto was a few feet from track, d
Parker turned the auto west along
the track and front end of auto pass
ing track switch stand about 20 feet
west of center of crossing and the
rear end of auto was struck by pilot
beam of engine Immediately thereaf- 4
ter. As Parker turned his auto west
both Mr.. Colvin and Mr.. Widsteen
jumped from the auto before engine
struck it and neither of them were
injured. Mr.. Parker was in the act of {
leaving car after it struck switch ]
stand, at which time the engine struck 6
it and resulted in Mr.. Parker being
struck on the left hip by door of auto.
The auto was more or less damaged. I
Eighty-eight feet east of crossing to G
the south of team track is located
warehouse which obscured the view of i
en- approaching engine. An object on ;
track 100 feet east of crossing can be !.
seen at any distance south of track l
along roadway up 10 so feet distant 8
from track and for distance of 88
feet east of crossing there is nothing
70 obstruct a persons vision for at
east 200 feet south Of track.
The track runs east and west and =
:rosses Washington street At right {