1938-09-06 — Page 3

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH,

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1938.

SIGNALMAN AND DRIVER BLAMED

State Senator Julius S. Berg of New York City, who committed suicide by shooting while a grand jury held back an indictment charging him with 17 county of grund larceny and embezzlement. He was said to have tried to pro- tect "higher ups" among state officials.

Adder Bites Girl: S.O.S. For Serum

WH

REPORT OF INQUIRY ON RAILWAY SMASH AT OAKLEY

ported by Guard Seoffield's evidence. But having regard to the results I

Lieutenant-Colonel E. Woodhouse, reporting to the Minister, the point where it was made is sup- of Transport on his inquiry into a L.M.S. railway collision at Oakley Junction, near Bedford, on January 22, when three lives were lost and 46 people were injured, states that the accident re- sulted from a series of errors on the part of Signalman J. Finnerty, followed by Driver H. J.. Hudson's failure to obey signals quickly enough. The report was issued recently.

that that lover

Drive

am driven to the conclusion that elther the brake was not fully spilled at first, or that the speed of the time must have been substantially in ex- cess of the 70-75 m.p.h. estimated by the witnesses."

STOPPING DISTANCE

and adds: -

to

he

The collision was between the 2.10 him some four minutes before its from arrival, and must have then been pin. express passenger train

The report refers to a series of and St. Pancras to Bradford

a over four miles away; if he had stationary empty carriage train. The neted promptly there was ample time tests made by the company to deter- mine the stopping distances obtain- able under express can past the Junction signals for it to be stopped at Bromhate.

emergency conditions at danger, and was diverted on to'

"Moreover, it is clear that the state-with trains of varying composition, the Northampton branch line, where it came into head-on collision with ment that he did not bolt the facing

"Having regard to these figures, I the engine of the stationary train points on the last occasion when he

that while Hudson at a speed which, it is estimated, had

set them for the branch was In-am of opinion been reduced to about 25 m.pl.

correct. This is proved by the evi-might not have been able to stop at Atter blaming the signalman and dence of the two men, Dunham and the home signals 1,003 yards from the the driver of the express, Colonel Wilson, who saw No, 22 lever in the point at which he said that he ap- within the Woodhouse adds, that the secident reversed position, quite apart from plied the brakes, he ought to have

alone is succeeded in doing so would not have occurred if Guard the fact Turner had been more expeditious in locked 'over' by occupation of track available distance of 1,341 yards un- his preparations to shunt the leading circuit No. 886. Therefore, as a last less his speed was considerably in nine coaches of the empty train from resort, he could have used the scaled excess of his estimate of 70 m.p.h..

release enable him to

to restore the even if the steam broke on the en- the branch line into a siding. He fever when he found that

gine did not respond Immediately Moreover, condensation. resses the view that responsibility expresses

Borne Cox (driver of the stationary train)Gwing for the on Finnerty, but to clear the track must be borne

but was unable to set back far enough he had been unable to pick out the distant signats at long range, over mainly by

circuit, though that Driver Hudson was less admittedly the instructions are word the steelwerk of the viaduct, and he THILE twenty-one-year-finds that

alert old

than he should have been, anded to the effect that the release is presumably knew that the distance Miss Geraldine

share with the signalmon the

Whlic he does not only to be used if the track circuit separating them from the home sig

nals hind

bean

criticized as insuffi- Baker, of .Gipsy-lane,

consider that Guard Turner should is unoccupied.

elent. Therefore, as

ns he was travel!- Wokingham, Berks, was be blamed for excess of caution or "Finnerty's actions after finding ing fast, it seems surprising that walking, near her home re-that he could be held responsible in that No. 22 fever was immovable can did not take the earliest possible op-

portunity of observing Either

them when cently she trod on an adder. any way for the accident, he un-be explained in two ways.

wlitingly contributed to the chain of he lost his

they came into clear view through heod when confronted

60 yards or the viaduct, some with this unexpected occurrenceing reaching the point at which he said before It coiled round her foot, bit events which brought it about.

else, realizing his error in accepting her ankle, then vanished. Finnerty is aged 42, with 12 years the train, he hoped to conceal it and that he saw them; earlier action on

experience as a signalmau, and n

to avoid the inquiries which his part, even to that small extent, so to avoi The girl was rushed by car to good record hitherio. Hudson's age would have resulted if he had sent

sent would have lessened the force of the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Read-is 48. He has nine yours" driving the Obstruction Danger signal to

to collision considerably. It violence the suggests used the

that อก ing, where doctors at once tele-experience and a good record.

Bromham, or if he had

explanation of phoned to London's Zoo for a REGULATIONS CONTRAVENED scaled release. His excuse that he Hudson's failure to stop is contained expected the express to stop at the home signal to be lowered for

at his his admission

that be

be expected supply of anti-snake serum.

The report states: "Finnerty's

home signals shows an entire dis- Arst failure was his omission to send the blocking back signat to regard of the safety principles em-him when the train drew near to it,

bodled

enabling Jum in the Block Telegraph

to run forward to it, the to a London firm of chemists.

Bromham when he set the facing Regulations 4 and 13A.

I regard his. If this explanation is the cor- tarting signal 805 yards beyond It This would The scrum was sent to Reading by points for the branch.

contravention of these regulations, rect one.

one, it

It is possible that the brake the signalmon which are straightforward and clear- express, and within seventy minutes not have prevented

the express to the girl was given an injection. there from offering

he realized that the home signul Later she was reported to be pro-him, but if the block indicator had worded, as a most serious matter. was not applied with full force until "With regard to Driver Hudson's was not going to be lowered, and this been at Train on Line" at the time,

think that this might have remind-failure to stop the express, the point would account for the speed at which "She was desperately 11, and theed Finnerty to re-set the points for at which he said that he saw the the train entered the branch." injection was just in time," a re- the main line before he accepted the distant signals and applied the brake SUGGESTED SAFEGUARDS porter was told.

train. Next, his action in accepting fully is 1,341 yards from that ti

express with Adders are usually less than two the

the prescribed which the collision occurred, at a feel long. As a rule their bite is not quarter-mile over-run occupied was speed of some 25 miles an hour, fatal, although the consequences are inexcusable, as was his failure to Judging by the extent of the damage often serious. Their colour varies remedy this blunder by cancelling Allowing for the period that would and black the acceptance when he found him- elapse before a brake application be- brown, reddisti varieties have been found on heaths self unable to re-set the racing came noticeable at the rear of the

points. The express was offered to train, Hudson's statement regarding

Zoo officials passed on the request

gressing satisfactorily,

grey,

moors and wood in Britain.

An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure"

First patient:

**I was a fool. The sign read DANGER, but l'took a chance.”

Second patient:

"I haven't taken 'ASPIRIN'. in time. . .'. ...

Fifty Years

OF

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REMEDIES

Don't take chances with your health. It is not wise or fair to yourself. Many a serious illness is the result of a neglected cold or sore throat. 'ASPIRIN' will guide you safely along the highroad of health.

‘ASPIRIN'

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means Best

Helen Hull Jacobs refused to offer any excuses for her defeat Mrs. Helen at Wimbledon, by Wilts Moody, when she returned to New York, as above. While she used a cane about the deck. she refused to pose with it, to Indicate her injured ankle,

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Colonel Woodhouse remarks that a longer view of the distance signals would probably have prevented the recident. It might be regarded as one that would equally have been prevented by automatic train control of the "warning" type, with "the track apparatus fixed at a suitables. Croydon, a familiar figure at $1 distance on the approach side of the Eastbourne in a revolving top distant signals.

hat placarded "Beware of Good results had been achieved in Lawyers." He left £38,051,

tests with a "direct admission valve, by meuns of which

-The legatee is Mr. William. Bassett..

a more rapid employed by Messrs. C. & J. Cole-

application of the brakes is secured, man, Oddlynge Parade, Eastbourne. and he understood that the company

was fitting them to all new rolling

stock

press ssiru-ted for main-line ex-

TO AVERAGE OUT

"Evidently Mr. Hurst was Judging

It had also been de- me by some barbers he had visited,"

cided to At them to existing stock said Mr. Bassett.

by degrees. Having regard to the

cut his hair for 18 years and

general increase in schedule speeds he used to come in here regularly

express

ess, trains this decision was when he was at Eastbourne in bust- commendable one and it was to be

ness.

"When I am busy I can cut 15

hoped that the work would be ex- pedited as much as was practicable. heads In an hour."

The report also expresses the view thick hair of a young man.

Mr. Bassett was busy with the When that the distance between the down he finished he said: "That one has distant signals and the home signals taken me 64 minutes, but I shall was inadequate.

Bus Jumpers Responsible

For Accidents

probably got a few thin ones in to average it up."

A barber for 35 years, Mr. Bassett began at 18 as luther boy with a Dutchman who had a business in Eastbourne.

PROPAGANDA SHOP

Near the shop where he works is Mr. Hurst's famous propagando shop sill, with the facia board, "Beware of Lawyers," and a large window poster, "Down with Blood Sports and the Abominable Cruelty of Fox-

According to a decision by Judge Hunting."

from time

to time.

T. B. Leigh at the Manchester Various other slogans were dis- County Court recently, a person who Some were repeated in white letters

ployed there tries and fails to board a moving bus

sewn on a black frock-coal Mr. is responsible for an accident that Hurst wore with the revolving top- might follow his attempt. This and-hot.

A keen Law Reform worker, he Ing was the outcome of an action directed in his will that if any person brought by Mrs. Marina Jacobs, of interested should threaten legal Hywood Street, Cheetham, Man-action against his estate he or she chester, against the Manchester should lose all right in the will. Corporation und also ngeinst Mr. H.

Venn Darber, of Patch Lane, Bram-

bail; Mrs. Jacobs was represented Typhoid

by Mr. H. Lever, the corporation

by Mr. J. W. Stansfield, and Mr.

Barber by Mr. J. S. Watson,

It was explained that Mr. Barber

attempted to board a corporation bus

in Manchester. He was not success-

Danger To Bathers

ful and was dragged some distance People who bathe in the Welsh along the road. The attention of the Harp, reservoir of the Grand Union conductor was called to the accident Canni Company at Hendon, run the and he hurried to the rear to ring risk of contracting typhoid, the emergency bell.

This warning was given at Hendon As he passed,

when slx a hand-bag

court recently, belonging to Mrs. Jacobs police fell out of her lap. She leaned for young men were summoned for bath- ward to pick it up as the driver of ing in the reservoir.

the bus, responding to the three rings An officer of the canal company's of the bell, pulled up quickly. Mrs. police said: "The water is not at for Jacobs was thrown backwards and bathing. Years ago, eighty locks of sustained bruises and shock.

Bewer water were deposited there every day.

Judge Leigh held that there had not been any negligence on the part

of the bus officinis, who, he believed,

"It is for the bather's own beneft that we take out these summonses.

"We have had notice boards fixed

had acted reasonably and properly blong the bank every fifty yards, but

in pulling up the bus promptly. The they have been torn down. negligence, fie sald, was with Mr. "On this occasion, five noilces were Barber. He gave Judgment for in view of these bathers." Mes. Jacobs for £40 with costs to

be met by Mr. Barber,

The summonses were dismissed on payment of 4s. costs,

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