Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-01
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Continued from Page one)
Whitehead. also on duty in the tower
at the time of the disaster.
|TOWERMAN EXONERATES
SUBSTITUTE WORKER
Porter. Ind. Feb. 28-(By the
Associated Press) Charles White
head, telegrapher in the signal tow
er which regulates the passage OF
trains over the crossing where q
New York Central train last night
smashed into the side Of another on
the Michigan Central. killing more
than 40 tonight, gave his version of
events preceding and during the col
lision.
He substantiated the statement of
Joe Cook. operator of the 56 levers
in the tower. that the signals were
set against the Michigan Central
train, and exonerated Cook Of any
blame for the disaster.
Whitehead, too unstrung to talk
connectedly last night, tonight was
back at his job, outwardly calm.
His eyes, deep set from loss of
sleep, repeatedly darted back and
forth from one track to the other,
many times he paced the floor.
II send and receive all messages
telling when various trains will ar
rive" he said. IT have nothing to
do with the operation of the signals
and am not considered in any way
responsible for them.
Ordinarily q man named Piering
runs the levers. but he wanted to
take night off and hired Joe Cook.
a substitute operator, to work for
him.
| Because of the mass of switches
detours and the intersection, both OF
we were last night.
Far down each track is an ap-
pliance which rings a bell in the
tower when train sets it. Last night
we heard the bell, and we saw it was
the New York Central. About thirty
seconds later the Michigan Central
bell rang. Joe set the signals against
the Michigan Central and opened the
track for the New York Central.
1--WE sat peering down the New
York Central tracks, watching the
headlight gradually grow larger and
larger. We had not noticed the
Michigan Central.
| 1.-THE New York Central engine
outlines plainly were visible.
"Suddenly heard Joe shout:
My God, Charley. the NJ. G. is
coming through the block
II can still hear that shouted warn
ing.
Il turned quickly to the right, and
there not $50 feet away was the
Michigan Central, No. 20. crashing
down at sixty miles an hour. 1t was
so close I could see the spaces be-
tween the fender-bars.
"Joe- jumped for the door, and I af-
ter him.
I'VE heard terrific, grinding crash.
There was hiss Of steam, a brilliant
red glare lighted up the tower and
our little building shook all over The
crashing of glass-the tower windows
breaking-tingled in my ears and the
tower continued to rock.
I'VE lay against the door for a mo-
ment and then collapsed to the floor.
Later, a few seconds later. I suppose.
Joe got up and dashed downs tairs I
| followed.
when reached the ground Joe was
running full speed up the road to
Chesterton, two miles away. am told
that he never stopped until he reached
there although several persons tried
to halt him.
II went down the wreckage The
conductor of one of the trains came
| up and tried to ask me something. He
couldn't TAX, he was shaking so, and
guess I couldn't have answered. I
don't remember much after that.
went home, but couldn't sleep. 1 kept
seeing those two glaring headlights
they seemed gigantic-rushing down
on me. I dreamed of them and must
have tossed a lot, for I several times
picked the bed clothes off the floor"
Whitehead explained that the sig
nal system was interlocking so both
tracks could not have been open at
the same time. Closing the tracks
to the Michigan Central automat-
ically opened it to the New York
Central, and vice versa, he said.
Whitehead said the Michigan Cen
trail probably was making 60 miles
an hour but that the New York Gen.
trail was travelling slower-probably
&C miles.
| Cook was unable to work tonight,
but was not needed. Every train
on both roads was ordered to stop
before reaching the wreckage and to
proceed only by hand signal. All
derailing switches were locked, and
all blocks were set against oncom-
! ing trains.
| Last night was the first night off
the regular tower man has taken in
| over month. His job. is q seven
day one.
s,ao,. Drsr oocc M Ans1-n