Evening star., 1935-04-14
BUS SPEED HELD
T00FAST BYB. 80.
FIREMAN At QUIZ
Engineer Sounded Whistle,
All Members of Crew
Testify.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT
FROM RAILROAD DUE
Trainman Tells of Shouting
Were Going to Hit a Bus"
as Lights Appeared.
BY JACK ALLEN,
Staff Correspondent of The Star.


BALTIMORE, Md, April 13-The
veteran engineer and fireman of the
Baltimore & Ohio's crack metropolitan
special gave their versions today of
the tragic Rockville grade crossing
wreck which cost the lives of IA Will
Transport, Nd, children late last
Thursday night.
William F. Bussey 50-year-old fire.
man On the St Louis-New York flyer,
testified before the official inquiry at
Baltimore that the ill-fated high
school bus apparently was travelling
too fast" to avoid the crash with the
speeding express train.
1T looked to me like the bus driver
made an effort to stop, but at the
rate he was going he was unable to
do So" stated Bussey, who was the
only member of the train crew in a
position to describe graphically the
crash from his post on the left side
of the locomotive. 1T seemed he then
applied the gas and shot across the
path of the engine in an attempt to
clear the tracks"
Saw Bus Headlights.
He declared that the train, rushing
through the night at a speed Of nearly
60 miles an hour, was at the west
end of the Rockville station when he
first noticed the headlights of the bus
approaching the crossing only short
distance away.
Il shouted to the engineer, who
was blowing the whistle for the cross
ing. to hold 'er. we're going to hit
bust" Bussey continued. The engi-
neer slammed on the emergency
brake, but it was too late
James A. Shewbridge, a slim. gray
haired man with record of 80 years
as an engineer, told of hearing Bus
sey's cry. He said he never saw the
bus at any time, but a few seconds
after he applied the brake. he saw a
fash like fire" in front of the
engine.
His post was on the right side OF
the cab and on the opposite side Of
the train from that on which the bus
approached.
The hearing today was conducted
by the Baltimore s, Ohio and repre-
sentativeS of the Interstate Com
merce Commission in the formers
Offices at Camden Station.
First of a series of official probes
planned by State, Federal and trac-
ton agencies, it ended without any
definite finding by the railroad or
I. C. c. representatives, but both
groups announced that reports prob
ably would be forthcoming later.
Report to Be Made.
George V. Lowering, chief of the
accident investigation section of the
Interstate Commerce Commission, told
The Star that the report of his de-
partment would be drafted in about
four weeks"
He explained that he and his aSso-
ciateS would wait until the inquest
to be held in Rockville Tuesday and
any other inquisitions that might be
called have been disposed of.
Our authority under law" the I.
c. C. chief said, permits us to inves-
tigate railroad accidents and to report
them with our recommendations for
any steps that will prevent accidents
of a like character in the future"
Lowering added that the commission
has no authority to recommend crim-
lnal action.
C. M Shriver, superintendent of the
Baltimore division of the B. & O., said
a public statement may be made
within a few days" by Charles w.
Galloway, operating vice president Of
the road.
Three other members of the train
crew, showing the effect of the strain
they have undergone since the crash,
gave their version of the wreck.
All agreed that every safety precau-
tion had been observed in approach
ing the crossing where the speeding
express, roaring through a drizzling
rain. rushed down upon the bus and
snuffed out the lives of the Williams
port children who were returning to
their homes after attending a chem
istry exhibition at the University Of
Maryland
Bussey Highlight.
The statement by Bussey, a resi-
dent of Glenburnie, Md, came as the
highlight of the six-hour probe which
brought the fireman, engineer, Con-
ductor r. A. Compton. Flagman c.
w. Collier, Baggage Clerk Harry v.
Culbertson and several Baltimore di-
vision officials to the witness chair.
The trainmen virtually confined
Continued on Page 2, Column So
GOV. ALLEN FILES SUIT