The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1922-03-25


TRANSFORMATION Committee, who was
sent as a representative Of the Eu-
reka County Chamber Of Commerce
10 the hearing Of the Nevada Public
Service Commission held at Paiisade
on March II. makes the following re-
port of the proceedings held there
and Of his trip:
Leaving Eureka Thursday morning
with the officials of the Commission
and E. II. Walker, traffic manager of
the Reno Chamber Of Commerce and
representing the Eureka County
Chamber of Commerce in this hear
ing, +. J. Shaughnessy, Chairman Of
the Nevada Public Service Commis-
sion. devoted most of his time and
attention on the trip down to the con-
dition of roadbed and track of the
Eureka-Nevada railroad.
Between Pine and Alpha stations
the roadbed was considerably washed.
but passable by careful handling of
the train. At Blackburn, because Of
the fact that no section hands were
employed by the railway company on
this part of the road, a wreck oc-
Cured. The water had cut through
the ell at the point of the switch.
leaving the frozen ground between
the ties and down the sides of the
fill. Due to the precaution and watch
fulness of the engineer. Nat Haw-
kins, and the slow speed at which the
train was proceeding. instead of be-
ing badly shaken up and injured,
there would no doubt have been
several deaths. The engine and tend
er passed over the damaged place,
but the tank car following dropped in
the hole with the coupler against and
resting on the switch block. Several
of the IL passengers were very badly
shaken up, especially the only lady
and one man. After the excitement
OF the accident was over. and 1t be-
came known that there was only one
section hand at work that day be-
tween Eureka and the Hay Ranch
station, a distance of Sc miles. severe
condemnationof the railway company
was expressed because of the operat-
ing of passenger trains at this period
of the year, especially, without prop
er and necessary supervision of the
track and roadbed. At this time the
representative of the Eureka County
Chamber of Commerce requested of
Mr.. Shaughnessy of the Public Service
Commission that an investigation of
the accident be made.
Upon the report OF the wreck by
the conductor to j. b. Rice. train
master at Palisade. everything pos
sible toward the relief of the pas
sengers was done by him. He got in
touch with the second of the two
section crews employed on the road
and had them sent on to the wreck
with a speeder. This speeder then
took six passengers and started for
Palisade. In the meantime a light
locomotive was steamed up and sent
out with a coach, getting within three
and a half miles of the wreck at
about p. m. The remaining pas
sengers reached the relief train after
dark and proceeded to Palisade. pick
ing up on the way the passengers who
were on the speeder. and reaching
Palisade at $3.50 p. m.
HEARING AT PALIsADE
On account OF the railway wreck,
the hearing that had been set for
March 16 had to be postponed and
was held on the 18th. At this hear
ing held in the Office of the Southern
Pacific depot, the evidence of G. C.
Leach, agent of the s. p. Company at
Palisade, substantiated the complaint
that there had been delays in trans
ferring freight at Palisade by the Eu-
reka-Nevada railroad; and also that
where in the past passenger tickets
over the Eureka-Nevada railway were
sold in the s. p. Office. they were now
sold by an agent Of the Eureka-Ne-
vada Railway Company at the train
from his coat pocket. Mr.. Leach's
testimony concluded the hearing of
the complaint of the Eureka County
Chamber of Commerce before the
Public Service Commission.
FURTHER INVESTIGATION
The Public Service Commission of
its own voiition regarding the in
sepection of the books then went to
the Eureka-Nevada Offices and held
an investigation. A subpoena was
n