Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1920-01-08
FINDINGS OF
BOARD OF INQUIRY
FINDINGS

: The Board of Inquiry convened a
Payette, Idaho, 9:15 a. m. Januar
9Th, 1920, for the purpose of deter
: mining the cause and placing tn
responsibility for accident near Sec
ond Avenue North crossing at Pay
ette, January 4th, 1920, at sos p
IN. wherein Margaret Thompson sus
tanned injuries which resulted in hel
death.
The Board consisted of:
viii Wells, representative of the
Public
W. T. Ennis, Trainmaster, Nampa
representative of the operating De,
partment.
E R. Lambert, District Foreman
Nampa, representative of Mechanical
Department.
P. A. Pheney, Roadmaster, Rep
resentative of Engineering Depart
ment.
L. Rasmussen, Claims Adjustor,
representing Claims Department.
f. Others present were:
H. r. knight, Coroner Payette Co
]. T. Jefferis, Sheriff Payette Co.
After hearing all testimony, weigh
ing and considering same carefully,
find as follows:
o. S. L. Train no. in charge of
Conductor R. NJ. PyDer, Flagman M.
T. Miller, Brakeman H. F. Napper
Engineer Sim Collins, Fireman 7. }.
Foley, and consisting of engine 311S.
and IL passenger cars left Hunting,
ton, Oregon, at 4:2O p. IN. January
9Th, 1920, arriving at Payette at
approximately sos p. m, eight min,
utes late on schedule time.
When passing over highway cross
ing at Second Avenue North, Payette,
and while running at a speed estimat
cd to be between ten and fifteen
miles per hour, struck, and fatally
injured Margaret Thompson. age
sixteen. who was walking in an east
wardly direction along the north
eide of the main track.
We find that as train No ap-
preached Payette Engineer sounded |
customary station engine whistle sig. /
nal passing station whistling board /
and sounded regular crossing whistle
for seventh Avenue crossing, and as
train reached a point approximately
500 feet west of Second Avenue
North a regulation crossing whistle
was again sounded. The testimony
of the Engineer and Fireman shows
that the engine bell was ringing
from the time the engine passed the
station whistling board continuously
Until the train stopped at the station
other witnesses testified that they
lid not hear the engine bell ringing.
The evidence shows that Hoeschen
bell which is located on west side
Of street and to the north of main
track was not ringing at the time of
he accident.
When train No. 6 was in the VI
,inity of the station whistling board
he engineer shut off steam prepara
.ory to making station stop. The
speed of train was gradually reduc
ID and brought to a full stop at the
station.
Engineer Collins and Fireman Fol.
~ were keeping a lookout ahead as
rain approached Payette Station.
When the engine was approximately
fifteen feet west of Second Avenue
North crossing the fireman noticed
hree persons walking abreast along
he North side of main track, he
hen noticed engine strike the per
on nearest the track who was walk
ng close to the rail, and in such a I
,osition az not to clear a passing
rain When struck the person fell I
lear of the train and track, and sus,
aimed crushed skull and slightly
ruised face.
We further find that in company
With Charles Rock and Madge Pen
ington, Margaret Thompson lef,
he Pennington home on Seventh l
treet and walked eastward on 7th
treet intending to board train No.
at the depot to go to Ontario. Ore
on. there to take the stage for her
ome in Vale. When reaching the
oint where 7th Street and Third
venue converge, the three left the
ublic walkway and cut thru the o.
:. L. Right of Way crossing from the
outh side to the North side of
rack at point few feet west of I
he water tank. Before crossing
racks they looked westward and OBJ I
arvad tba boodIigb+ ~ tro;,, No &