CARTHAGE EVENING PRESS
MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 1903

PROBABLY FATAL WRECK ON ELECTRIC

OCCURRED AT 3 P.M. TODAY FOUR MILES FROM CARTHAGE -
A HEAD ON COLLISION MANY PEOPLE HURT

Feared That Motorman Josh Baker is Killed - There Was But One Man Who Escaped Uninjured

THE INJURED
JOSH BAKER, motorman, supposed to be fatally injured.
BILLIE MOORE, Carthage liveryman, hip badly hurt.
ANDREW ALYEA, arm broken, head cut, badly bruised.
ROBERT ORCHARD, head cut.
C. E. ROTH, jaw broken, scalp wound.
SAM H. SANDERSON, head cut
GEO DAVEY, face cut
BERT WILBUR, from north of town, internally hurt
MRS. CARRIE ROOTS, internally hurt, unconscious.
MRS. ED MILLER and two children of Joplin. Boy's leg badly hurt. Her 8 months infant badly crushed.
TOM WEBB of Webb City, slight injury.
A. J. MILLER, ankle sprained
UNKNOWN BOY, about 17 years old. Internally hurt, still unconscious.

A terrible head-end collision occurred on the electric line at 3 o'clock this afternoon at Curtis' crossing three miles west of town. There is curve there and a crest of a grade, both of which facts helped to keep the cars out of sight of each other until too late.
Both the conductors said that they were running according to orders, so the fault seems to be up to dispatcher supposed to be Thomas at Webb City.
The cars crashed together with great force knocking seats loose and piling the passengers up in a heap.
C. E. Fuller of Carthage, who was on one of the cars, says he believes he was the only passenger on the two cars not injured.
Josh Baker, of Carthage, the motorman, was so badly injured that he will probably die.
Mrs. Ed Miller, of Joplin, was seen shortly after the wreck and said: "I was sitting with my two babies on the seat with me, The first I knew of anything unusual was when I saw the men in the smoker all jump back into the aisle of the car. then I heard a terrible crash and all was black.
"When I came to my first thought was of the babies. I was in a pile of debris. I could not see my little ones anywhere until I heard a scream under some seats.
"I then pulled three seats away before I found my children near together. They are hurt but I don't think fatally.
"I could have not been unconscious for more than two minutes.
"As they took me and the children away from the scene I looked back and the picture was one of a big pile of kindling wood."
A car from Carthage went out to the scene of the wreck and brought to Carthage those passengers who were most accessible and who were not so badly injured but that they could be easily moved. The car then returned to the wreck for further rescue work.
A telephone message from Webb City at 4 p.m. says four persons are likely to die - that one of them is Motorman Josh Baker; one a man named Anderson, and the other two names unknown. Eighteen others are reported badly hurt. None of them had been taken to Webb City. Doctors had been sent out to the wreck.
The passengers were all so excited after the accident that it was a difficult matter for them to give particulars. So far as could be learned the injured people are as given at the head of this column.
The scene in Dr. Wise's office was a bloody and terrible one. Some sat with bleeding heads and bodies while others laid writing internally hurt on cots, while two or three of the worst injured were under the care of four or five physicians in the inner office. An awe stricken crowd stood at the foot of the stairway.
A telephone message from the power station, a mile this side of the scene of the catastrophe says:
"Many were unable to be brought either to Carthage or Webb City and were carried into the near by yard at the Raupp [Ropp] farm house.
Doctor's came from Webb City and Carterville and the wounded were made as easy as possible.
Lawrence Haven, of Carthage, is generally the dispatcher at this time of day. A new man, however, was being broken in a short time ago.

JOSH BAKER DYING
A later telephone massage at 5 p.m. from the power station says that Josh Baker was taken on a car and started for Lakeside at 4:45, but the doctors in charge said he couldn't possibly live till they reached there.
"The scene of the wreck and the injured is terrible," said the message; "fully 30 people were hurt."
A car came in a at 5 o'clock bringing four which were all from Carthage that were hurt. A victim of the wreck says every seat in the car I was in was smashed out through the side of the car. The wheels were all jammed up together."
Edge and Moad were the crew on one car and Baker and Ralph Smith on the other.
Mr. and Mrs. William Baker, parents of Josh Baker, live in this city and were at once notified of the injury of their son. They left at once for his Lakeside home.

OTHERS INJURED
MRS. NANCY BIGGS, Carthage: badly bruised, probable internal injuries.
MRS. W. C. ELDRED, bruised, not serious.
RALPH SMITH, Conductor, Webb City, bruised and badly cut.
DAN ANDERSON, Oklahoma, badly hurt, internal injuries, serious. Driver of race horse Bee Gee here.
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CARTHAGE EVENING PRESS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1903

HEROIC MOTORMAN JOSH BAKER DEAD
Thirty-Five Others Reported on the Injured List -- Edge Will Likely Recover.

YESTERDAY'S TERRIBLE WRECK
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WHOSE THE BLAME?
Yesterday's wreck on the electric line occurred about 2:30 o'clock. Tom Harbaugh, a former Carthage boy, was the dispatcher who gave the two ill fated cars their orders. Lawrence Havens, also a Carthage man, who released him in due turn about 3 o'clock, received the news of the wreck. The mistake might be either in giving or in receiving the orders. The electric line officials refuse to make any statement as to who is to blame. They say it will take time to settle this point beyond doubt.
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The first reports of the serious character of yesterday afternoon's wreck at the Curtis switch on the electric line as given in yesterday's PRESS, proved no exaggeration.
Though the cars remained on the track and though the list of dead has been equaled in previous accidents yet there were so many injured that the catastrophe may be classed as the most serious that has ever occurred in the history of the line.
Josh Baker, the faithful motorman on car No. 29, died of his injuries, at St. John's Hospital in Joplin yesterday evening between six and seven o'clock.
Baker was badly mangled and was never more than semi-conscious after being rescued. His chest was crushed and his nose, face and tongue gashed.
Motorman W. A. Edge, who was on the other fated car, No. 30, was very badly hurt. It was supposed at first that he could not recover, but his skull was successfully trephined last night and the doctors now hope for his recovery.
Some of the passengers mentioned yesterday who were badly hurt may yet easily develop fatal injuries, but so far as known today, there is but the one fatality of Josh Baker to charge to the wreck.
A large number of people gathered from both directions on the line to view the wreck and help take care of the injured. Within a hour hundreds of sight-seers were on the grounds and continued so until the track was cleared about seven o'clock by towing the wrecked cars away.
Perhaps the first people from outside the cars to reach the wreck were Richard Palmer, of Reeds, and W. D. Cash, of Webb City. They are employees of the line and were cutting weeds on the right-of-way a few hundred feet east from the point where the collision occurred. Ed Lovins, a salesman for Dixon & Zane, the Carthage implement firm, was driving along the road less than a hundred yards away when the crash came. He hurriedly turned back and was there as quick as anyone. Farmers from nearby also came quickly. All was confusion and excitement for a few minutes. And as people recovered consciousness or aroused from their stunned condition after a few minutes, the noise and confusion increased rather than abated for a time.
The two weed cutters who ran to the rescue say that the first person they saw from the wreck was Conductor Moad, who came staggering eastward down the track, swinging his arms and paying no attention to anyone. He kept going till he got to the electric lines telephone box in front of Mrs. Terres Sloan's residence, where he sent in news of the wreck to headquarters. He says himself that he has no idea how he got to the telephone. The first thing he remembers after the deafening crash of the cars was the ringing of the telephone bell when he was turning the call crank. Mrs. Sloan saw him at the phone and knew by his staggering actions that something had happened. Learning the cause, she took some bottles of wine and was early on the scene, an angel of mercy and comfort to the distressed. The wine proved a great boon to some who were faint from their injuries. The number of bottles of camphor, turpentine and other simple remedies which were quickly produced from farm houses in the vicinity, was wonderful, as well as opportune.
Motorman Josh Baker's terrible position attracted the attention of the first arrivals at the scene and their efforts were immediately directed to his rescue. The cars were jammed up so close together that they had to be pried apart, and he was crushed between them. The vestibules of both cars were simply crushed out of existence, nothing remaining of them but scattered splinters. Josh had remained faithfully at his post to the last, and when finally released from pressure enough so that he could be moved from his position, his hand was found still grasping the brake crank.
"Faithful unto death," might truthfully be inscribed over his grave. The fact that he materially checked the speed of his car before the crash came no doubt saved more than one person from being killed.
Motorman W. A. Edge, who was on west bound car No. 30, when he saw a collision was unavoidable, should to his passengers to jump and at the same time he climbed over the right-hand gate of his vestibule and jumped north.
He was found on the track about 60 feet behind where his car had stopped, and was in an insensible condition. He lay with his head in the middle of the roadway and his body pointing north out across the north rail. There were terrible gashes in the back of his head, and his skull was crushed there. It was hard to account for his position unless in jumping he hit the high bank and bounced back after the car passed. It was certain he had not been run over. He was carried bleeding profusely into Mr. Raupp's [Ropp's] yard nearby and cared for in the shade until he could be taken to the hospital.
Conductor Bud Moad, who was on car No. 30 with Motorman Edge, was badly bruised and cut and shaken up but not seriously so. Conductor Ralph Smith, who was on car No. 29 with Motorman Baker perhaps fared a little worse than Conductor Moad but is not considered to be in a critical condition. The fact that the conductors were back in the car with the passengers was the cause of their faring so much better than the motorman.

FATED CAR - FATAL POINT
Car No. 30 which was the worse injured of the two in this wreck, is keeping up its record as being a fated car and at the point where the collision occurred has a reputation also. On account of the numerous curves and grades there it is a dangerous locality and approaching cars cannot see each other far ahead at several points. Five years ago, at a point only 300 yards west of yesterday's accident, Jake Barker and James Hixon, then motormen on the line, brought their cars together and Jake suffered a broken leg. Two years before that Floy Walker and Deacon Smith on one car and Henry Long and Ollie Bruce on another had a collision at the bottom of the hill a few hundred feet east of yesterday's catastrophe.
Car No. 30 is the one that was so badly wrecked by jumping the track at Peach curve at the south end of Main street in this city three years ago. It was the car which collided with work car No. 10, west of Joplin last spring and also was thrown off the track by a cow last winter. Its fate yesterday seals its reputation as a hoodood car.

FUNERAL TOMORROW
The funeral of Motorman Josh Baker is announced to be held at the Christian church in Carthage tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock, conducted by Rev. T. W. Jeffrey, of the Methodist church, and will doubtless be largely attended.
J. W. Baker, of 12 miles northeast of Carthage, brother of the deceased, and Miss Linnie Baker, a sister of the deceased, happened to be in town yesterday, taking dinner with friends. When they heard of the accident, they made every effort to reach their brother at the first opportunity. But by the time they got to the scene of the accident, the injured man was en route to the hospital at Joplin, and by the time they got to the hospital at 7 o'clock, he was dead. Clarence Baker, of the Carthage post office force, was also trying to reach his brother, but arrived after death. Besides the above mentioned relatives, the deceased leaves a sister, Miss Cora and a brother Roscoe, who live with their father on the farm.
the deceased was married a few years ago and he and his wife, who survives him, resided in a pretty home at Lakeside.
Their only child died in infancy the past year. Yesterday afternoon Mrs. Baker joined the ambulance car at lakeside and accompanied her husband to the hospital. She was prostrate with the shock and grief. Last night she accompanied her father-in-law and other relatives to Carthage and is being comforted and cared for her in her great affliction.
The deceased was 33 years old last September. He entered the service of the electric line in March, 1896 within six months after its opening and has continued in the service ever since. He was recognized as one of the most competent and faithful employees on the line. The public and his fellow employees alike are unanimous in his praise. He was gentlemanly, patient and polite to a degree that attracted general attention.
He was in the line of promotion, being used as a substitute dispatcher and called in off the line whenever his services were needed in that capacity. His next step would have been to become a full fledged dispatcher.

ESTIMATE OF THE TWO CREWS
"They were four of the best men on the road," was the estimate of an electric line man commenting on yesterday's mishap. His audience was composed of fellow employees and the assent was general. All four of the men had been long in the employ of the road except Edge who has been on duty as a substitute and only since spring, but who had showed his ability.

CREWS LET INSURANCE LAPSE
Said R. J. Claflin, local agent of the North American Accident Insurance Co., this morning: "it is a remarkable situation, but there was probably not another four men employed on the electric but what are insured in my company. And we had three of the four crews in this accident, but Motorman Baker and Conductor Moad allowed their insurances to lapse less than a year ago, and Conductor Ralph Smith allowed his policy to lapse 6 months ago. I do not know as to Edge's insurance. Baker talked to me six weeks ago about renewing, but had not done so.

AMOUNT OF THE DAMAGES
Various wild guesses have been made as to the total amount of the losses sustained by the electric line on account of the accident. One man whose estimate would be considered of weight, said that $20,000 would be conservative, counting cost of repairing equipment and damages paid the injured.
McReynolds & Halliburton, attorneys for the electric line were busy yesterday evening and this morning taking statements from all in the car and in some cases settling or offering to settle with them.
A. J. Miller, when seen by the attorneys this morning said that he had only a slightly sprained ankle and did not consider that the road owed him anything. He accepted $5 and signed a release.

AWFUL SUFFERING
County Treasurer C. J. Smith left here on the 2:40 car, the first one which arrived at the scene of the wreck from Carthage and tells the following story of the terrible picture: "We knew nothing of the catastrophe until we were brought to a stop by the flagman a few hundred yards this way from the "Dewey" cut. The scene before us was one never to be forgotten,. Those who were able, and several farmers who had just arrived from a nearby field, were doing all they could to extricate the victims from the demolished cars and caring for those who had been carried under the trees. Five big men were working with Josh Baker trying to lay him so he could breathe. He was in a sickening shape. His face was mangled and his body lay distorted in an awful manner.
"Edge lay not far from where he struck the rocks when he jumped. He was raving like a maniac and shrieking with pain. Two men were holding his hands to keep him from tearing out his exposed brains. There was a gash across his head clear to the brain, extending from the back of his head to a point between his eyes.
"All around there was groaning and screaming. Twenty people lay here and there bleeding and writing in pain. Those farmers and women worked like heroes caring for those people."
Mrs. Carrie Roots was carried to her home at the corner of Second and Lyon streets from the first relief car in an insensible condition. Her fact was badly cut, having eight wounds about the forehead and cheeks though none were deep enough too be serious. Her attending physician says today she is getting along well and there is no internal trouble. She is suffering greatly from severe bruises and nervousness.
Mrs. Ed Miller, of Joplin, was taken to the home of Mrs. Roots together with her two little children one aged 8 months, the other two years. Mrs. Miller had several bruises but no serious injuries. the baby is not hurt at all, save a few slight bruises. The older of the two children a boy, has a few bad cuts on the limbs, otherwise he is not hurt. These two little ones probably had a more narrow escape from instant death than anyone else on the demolished cars. They were thrown from the seat beside their mother and being small landed under the seat in front, which miraculously remained intact. It acted as a protector from the debris which piled on top of them.
Welden Poindexter was the boy carried to Dr. Wise's office yesterday was too badly hurt to give his name and was mentioned "unknown" in the Press list of the injured. He resides with his parents near the Washington School house on Sophia street. He had several teeth knocked out, a bad gash in his head and a severe bruise in his side. He is resting easy today.
Bert Wilbur, though without a scratch or a bruise, was hurt probably as seriously as anyone who survived the wreck. When the cars struck he was doubled up over a seat and pinned down by another seat. Though apparently not mashed there seems to be some internal injury to his back and stomach which give him excruciating pain. Grave fears are entertained for his complete recovery. He is not suffering so much today, but the doctors say his condition is certainly serious. Wilbur lives on a farm northeast of town and is being cared for at the home of his uncle, J. W. Wilbur, the teamster, on North Garrison avenue.
Mrs. Nannie Biggs' condition today about the same as last evening, except she is more helpless. She suffers badly from injury to lumbar region, the result of which cannot be determined for some time. She also has bad bruises over various portions of body and limbs, with a severe strain of one of her ankles.

THE INJURED
The total result of the wreck is one killed and thirty-five injured.
C. E. Roth's shattered jaw bone was considered to serious a case to treat here without hospital appliances and he was sent to a St. Louis hospital last night for treatment, accompanied by his wife. His head was a mass of bandages as he was lifted on the train, there only being openings enough for him to breath and see.
Attorney H. L. Shannon was in the wreck and says today that his injuries were only slight bruises, not enough to grumble about.
C. E. Fuller still says he is unhurt but is nursing several bruises.
Motorman Edge was still reported unconscious most of the time today, but his physicians have hopes of his recovery.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Alred, aged about 80 years, were in the wreck but were not considered seriously injured and were taken home to Carterville.
Robert Orchard walks the street with numerous plasters on his head, thankful he was not worse hurt.
Tom Webb went home from here to Webb City last night insisting that his injuries were only a few scratches.
Conductors Smith and Moad were reported resting as easy as could be expected.
Others who had minor injuries not reported yesterday were Wm. Staley, of Carterville; Hazel Gwynn, of Webb City; J. S. Connelly, of Parsons, KS., collar bone broken, H. A. Ayers, salesman for the Scudder-Gale Grocery Co., of St. Louis; Will Reed, a race horseman of Galena, KS.; A. B. Crosier, Detroit, Michigan, ankle hurt; A. J. Young, Joplin; R. T. Kennon, E. W. Newton, Carthage, bruised.
Sam Sanderson, of the Palace Saloon, was cut in two places across the forehead and several stitches were necessary to close the wounds. The worst gash he received however was on the back of the head just at the base of the brain. His injury while in a serious place is hardly deep enough to be very dangerous. Mr. Sanderson could scarcely move in his bed this morning and for a time it was feared that he was hurt internally. Two ribs are thought to be fractured though this may not be the case. He was resting easy today and congratulates himself that he came out alive.
G. Troyer, from west of Joplin, got on one of the cars, in the collision at Joplin intending to come to Carthage. Just as he was pulling out of Webb City, a friend on the street called out asking him to stay over a car. This he did saving himself from being a victim in the accident.
Dan Anderson, of Newkirk, OK., the driver of the horse Bee Gee, was taken to the Carthage hotel for treatment and was able to be up part of today.
Geo. Davey was happy today because he was hurt no worse.
Billy Moore is able to navigate with ease.
Andy Alyea is doing as well as could be expected of a man with a broken arm.
Mrs. W. C. Eldred, who insisted that she was unhurt yesterday, finds herself bruised and very sore today.
Dr. C. M. Ketcham, the electric railway physician here, looked after the patients in behalf of the company.
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CARTHAGE EVENING PRESS
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1903

FUNERAL OF JOSHUA BAKER
Hero Motorman Done Honor by His Fellow Employees

"Faithful" was the Watchword and sincere was the Sorrow of the Throng of Friends

The sad funeral service over the remains of Joshua Baker, the heroic motorman who met his death in the terrible wreck on the electric line Monday, was held this afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Christian church in Carthage. The ceremony was considered by Dr. T. W. Jeffrey of the M. E. Church in the absence of Rev. J. T. McGarvey, the Christian church pastor.
The church auditorium was packed with the multitude of friends and fellow employees of the deceased who came to pay their last respects to their honored friend. As many electric line employees who could be relieved from duty attended and all the high officials of the road were there. The beautiful casket was almost hidden with the loads of flowers. The prettiest piece was a large pillow and wreath sent by the fellow motormen and conductors of the deceased.
Across this figure was the word "faithful."
President A. H. Rogers, of the electric line also sent many beautiful flowers, and floral offering came from a host of friends.
Dr. Jeffrey paid a touching tribute to the young man, telling of his heroism at the time of his awful death and the nobleness of his character all through life, In words glowing with eulogy he told of the genuine affection his fellow workmen had for him and eased the grief of the sorrowing relatives with comforting sentiments. The interment followed the church service in Park Cemetery.
The pall bearers were electric line employees all among the oldest men on the road and the closest friends of the dead motorman, namely: Frank Hamilton, Robert Hutcheson, H. G. Long, Ed Palmer, C. C. Davidson and Earl Sexton.
Every electric line employee wore crepe on the lapel of his coat today out of respect for their dead comrade. The cars all ran slow as they passed the church on Main street during the funeral and not a bell was sounded.
A car load of Webb City Woodmen to which lodge Motorman Baker belonged, attended and conducted the burial rite.
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CARTHAGE EVENING PRESS
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1903

CORONER'S WRECK INQUEST
Dispatcher and Conductor Moad Disagree as to Orders Given

Car 29, Motorman Baker and Conductor Smith Exonerated - Further Testimony to Be Heard Tonight

The coroner's jury, composed of N. U. Wilson, S. O. Eels, Frank Stoehr, D. F. Hinds, J. M. Evans and E. L. Anderson, under Deputy Coroner Potter, of Joplin, conducted an inquest yesterday evening at Joplin over the remains of Motorman Josh Baker, who was killed in Monday afternoon's wreck on the electric line.
The session lasted three hours and only three of the dozen witnesses were heard. The inquest was then adjourned until this evening, when the other witnesses will be examined.
Conductor Ralph Smith of east bound wrecked car No. 29 was the first witness. He was conductor for Motorman Josh Baker. He has been a conductor on the road for three years and is in charge of car No. 29 since December 1, last. He said that he had gotten orders at Motley switch at 2:10 o'clock just previous to the wreck. He said: "My orders came from Dispatcher Tom Harbaugh and they were, 'No. 29, Hurry up to Morgan.' My replay was, 'Good,' and I repeated the order verbatim, as we are required to do. We left immediately, but on account of unusual stops, figured that we would get to Morgan about two minutes behind time. We were due there at 2:25, and as near as I can calculate that was the time of the collision, or a few minutes later."There seems to be no question about Baker's car No. 29 running according to orders, and no possible blame can attach to its crew.
Dispatcher Lawrence Havens was also heard by the jury. He usually goes on duty at three o'clock in the afternoon.
"I went on duty a little earlier Monday, however, at 2:20 o'clock," said Havens, as Harbaugh was needed in the outside management of extra cars, as often happens in the summer time.
"I sat down at the desk at exactly 2:20 o'clock," said Havens, and "Harbaugh did some work on the payrolls beside me, as he had 10 minutes to catch the next car to Joplin. He had been detailed to take care of two extras sent over to the ball game. The first call came in at exactly 2:25 from Conductor Moad, at Morgan, switch, three miles west of Carthage.
"I looked up and saw from the arrangements of pegs in the dispatching board that car 29, which left Webb City at 1:55 and Joplin at 1:30, had reported from Motely switch just beyond Prosperity Junction, at 2:10, on time, and was on its way to Morgan. This was regular and both cars were on time, but the board also showed that car No. 17 was en route from Webb City to Lakeside or had arrived at the latter place.
I turned to ask Harbaugh about the latter car. Harbaugh looked at the board and explained that No. 17 had reported at Lakeside and he had asked them to wait, a little while before getting orders, and that he did not know whether in the meanwhile No. 17 was waiting on the main track or on a switch.
Accordingly I replied to Conductor Moad, who was waiting, telling him of 17 being either on main track or switch at Lakeside, and then gave my orders: "30 pass 29 at Morgan, lookout for 17 at Lakeside and go to Motley." It was repeated back to me by Moad clear and straight. That order meant that car 30 should pass No. 29 at Morgan, where it had then reported and that it should no pass out until No. 29 had come in on the switch at that point. It was a plain order in the usual form and should not have been misunderstood."
Havens was rigidly cross-examined but his testimony was not changed in the least. He said that he could not have mentioned Syracuse as a passing point, as it was said that Conductor Moad claimed. Havens said that there was no occasion for alluding to Syracuse switch and that it was not mentioned.
"A few minutes later," continued Havens, "the operator at the Morgan substation called me up and reported that a collision had occurred at Curtis, between 29 and 30." "all I said was, 'Is that so?' and I turned in my chair and said to Tom Harbaugh, who was still at work on the payroll: "Tom, you heard my order to No. 30 just now, what was it?' Mind you I had not yet said to Tom that there was trouble, and as, at the time of giving my order I had taken pains to ask about No. 17, he had noticed particularly what order I gave. In answer to my question he said: 'Yes, you said for 30 to pass 29 at Morgan: lookout for 17 at Lakeside, and go to Motely.'
"I then told him that 29 and 30 had just come together at Curtis crossing, and that's why i wanted to verify my orders. Tom jumped up excitedly at my information and we proceeded to get information of the affair as fast as we could get the news by phone."
"Are you sure that you mentioned Harbaugh's name when you gave the order to Moad?" was asked.
"Yes," he answered. "It is the rule to make any explanations we have first, then give the regular orders and I prefaced my orders by saying "Tom says that the extra, No. 17 is at Lakeside, etc., and if my voice was not recognized, the mention of Tom's name would show that it was not him talking."
Buren Moad, the conductor in charge of car No. 30, which left Carthage at 2:10 Monday afternoon, testified that he received orders at Morgan switch, a point which is 15 minutes' run west of Carthage, to meet car No. 29 at Syracuse, which is a mile west of the point where the collision occurred.
"The order was unusual," said Moad, "and indicated that the east bound car, No. 29 was late, so I was careful to keep a sharp lookout when we were running between Dewey and Curtis. This is the most dangerous section on the entire line, owing to there being an orchard on the north side and the curve, which shuts off the view. After passing Dewey I went up to the front platform and was talking with my motorman, Edge, when I saw car 29 approaching not more than a half block away."
Moad was very positive about the orders he received and he repeated them verbatim as follows: "Thirty pass 29 at at Syracuse and look out for 17 at Lakeside. I don't know whether 17 is on the main line or not."
"I repeated the orders to Edge when I went up to the front," continued Moad "and according to the rules, he repeated them after me word for word."
Harbaugh was not present at the inquest. Neither was W. A. Edge, the motorman on car No. 30. The former was on duty at the office of the company and the latter is in a serious condition at St. John's Hospital. However, the evidence of both will be heard orally or by deposition at the adjourned session tonight. Moad says that Edge will bear him out in his statements about the order to go to Syracuse and Havens is confident that Harbaugh will corroborate his testimony.
Dispatcher Havens was in Carthage this morning. When seen by a PRESS reporter he said: "I have nothing say in addition to the evidence given at the coroner's inquest. It might be proper to explain," said he as an afterthought, "that I had only that morning been directed to see particularly that the orders given should be repeated back verbatim. I had been troubled a little with conductors failing to repeat the name of their own cars in repeating an order. I reported the matter and was told to insist on an exact repetition of each order. Hence, when AI sat down at the dispatching board, in the afternoon, to start out on my shift of the work, my first care was to see that orders were repeated right. that's one reason why I am so sure Moad repeated my order right."
It is rumored on the street that the electric line officials have already fixed the blame all right, to their own satisfaction, but that nothing will be said about it publicly.
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CARTHAGE WEEKLY PRESS
AUGUST 20, 1903

MORE WRECK TESTIMONY
Coroner's Jury Has Not Yet Returned a Verdict

Attorney H. L. Shannon Makes Interesting Observations - The Inquest Will Be Brought to a Close Tonight

Only one witness, H. L. Shannon, of this city, was before the coroner's jury at Joplin last night which is investigating the cause of the Monday afternoon wreck on the electric line resulting in Motorman Josh Baker's death.
the jury seems to have trouble in getting its witnesses to appear. An attachment was sent for Tom Webb at Webb City yesterday and it is said that that gentleman skipped out the back door and was gone while the officer was inquiring for him at the front door. The other witnesses who have so far failed to testify have had an ordinary summons served on them.
It is rumored that some of the witnesses who have not appeared can give testimony of a sensational nature.
Deputy Coroner Potter says he will surely bring the inquest to a close tonight. The deposition of Motorman Edge, who is in the hospital at Joplin, was to be taken today to be laid before the jury tonight.
After Attorney H. L. Shannon had been summoned to appear before the coroner's jury he went out to look over the ground where the catastrophe occurred and made some interesting observations which came out in his testimony. He said: "I was on car 29 going east Monday afternoon, and involuntarily stood up when I first saw the other car approaching at a rapid rate of speed. Our car seemed to slacken up. Seeing that a collision was inevitable, I sat down and braced myself and then the crash came. I went out to the scene of the disaster today in order to make investigations, and was accompanied by D. M. Roper of Carthage. The first point I observed was that the unfortunate Baker, motorman on the east bound car, could not see the west bound car approaching until he was within 240 feet from where the accident occurred. His vision was obscured by the trees and undergrowth on the left side of the track. The motorman on the west bound car could have seen car 29 at the point designated, 240 feet west of the point of collision when he was an equal distance east of the point of collision, assuming that the two cars were moving at the same rate of speed. I could see Mr. Roper standing on the south end of the tie, 240 feet west of the point of collision while was standing in the middle of the tract, 450 feet east of this point. Roper was the length of eight rails of 30 feet each, on the west and I was the length of 15 rails on the east and could see his head distinctly.
"We then made another observation. I stood 210 feet west of the point of collision and roper 300 feet east. Both of us were in the middle of the track and we could plainly see one another.
"It was evident that the motorman on the west bound car could not have seen car 29 if the latter was more than 240 feet west of the meeting place, but after car 29 got within 240 feet away. I assume in making these calculations that both motormen were looking ahead.
Mr. Shannon was questioned very carefully by Judge Potter and several members of the jury asked him a number of questions. His testimony was exhaustive and seemed to be considered very important.
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CARTHAGE EVENING PRESS
FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 1903

CONDUCTOR MOAD IS RESPONSIBLE

Coroner's Jury Blames Him and Edge for Wreck Which Caused Josh Baker's Death

NO PROSECUTIONS TO FOLLOW

Verdict of Coroner's Jury
We, the jury, after hearing all the testimony at the inquest over the dead body of Joshua Baker, find that he, Joshua Baker, came to his death by a collision, between electric cars Nos. 29 and 30 of the Southwest Missouri Electric Railway Company, said collision being caused by the carelessness and negligence of Conductor B. Moad, in charge of said car 30, in disobeying orders of Dispatcher Lawrence Havens, or the misapprehension of orders given, and the inefficiency of said company's employee, Motorman W. A. Edge, on said car No. 30.
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The coroner's jury in the inquest over the remains of Joshua Baker, the motorman on car 29, who was killed in the head-end collision at Curtis crossing Monday afternoon, arrived at a verdict last night, after deliberations from 9 until after 11 o'clock. Before retiring to render a verdict, the jury heard four more witnesses last night, including Dispatcher Tom Harbaugh, corroborated Dispatcher Haven; evidence given Tuesday night. This fact fastens blame on Conductor Moad. The deposition of Motorman Edge of are No. 30 who is sick in the hospital, was not presented to the jury, as it was expected It is not known, therefore to what extent he would to what extent he would corroborate Conductor Moad's evidence. He must have understood the order to be something like Conductor Moad claimed, however, else he would hardly have pulled out from Morgan switch with his car. Assistant Prosecuting attorney H. J. Green said today to a PRESS reporter that no prosecution was due under the verdict rendered. Jury had rendered a verdict of "criminal negligence" then it would have been his duty to file information and proceed to prosecute the case.
The evidence heard by the jury last night was as follows:
Tom Webb, of Webb City, was the first witness. He testified that to having been on car 30, west bound and sat about mid-way in the in the car on the right side, hence did not hear Conductor Moad received his order at Morgan switch a few minutes before the collision, as the phone box is on the opposite side. His attention was first attracted by a noise at the door entering the smoker, caused by the conductor and several of the occupants of the smoker rushing toward the rear of the car. He did not see the other car coming.
C. E. Fuller, the mine operator of Carthage, testified that he was on car 29, east bound. He sat in the third seat from the back on the right side and as the window was open he remembered distinctly hearing Conductor Ralph Smith received his order at Motley Switch the last regular place for taking orders on the west side of the point of collision.
"I heard Smith when he turned around from the telephone and called out from the telephone and called to Motorman Baker, 'Morgan," out to Motorman Baker, 'Morgan said Fuller, " and he seemed to be a hurry."
Prof. Young, of St. Louis, and formerly of Webb City, who, with his wife, were passengers on car 39, was the next witness. He sat in the second or third seat from the rear on the left side and heard the conductor repeat his orders at Morgan Switch.
"I have endeavored to recall just what Moad said," continued the witness, "but I am not positive. I remember that he said 30 pass 29, look out for some number car at Lakeside and go to Motley,' but I can't think whether or not he said to pass 29 at Syracuse as Moad claims or at any other intermediate switch or whether he mentioned any switch. At any rate the car started away from Morgan at once and ran at a rapid rate of speed until we crashed into car 29. Of course, from what I heard Conductor Moad repeat in a loud voice I got an idea that were were to move on.
Tom Harbaugh, of Webb City, Chief dispatcher for the Southwest Missouri Electric Line, was the most important witness of the evening. He first told of giving orders to Conductor Ralph Smith on car 29 at Motley and his statement on car 29 at Motley and his statement was the same as Smith's and Fuller's. He said that he was relieved at dispatching board ten minutes later by Havens and that he sat by Havens' side and worked on the company's payrolls while Havens answered the calls and directed orders. The first call Havens gave was to Moad and Harbaugh remembered it because Havens had asked him about car No.177, an extra, running between Lakeside and Webb City. According to Harbaugh, Havens' orders was "30, pass 29, look out for 17 at Lakeside and go to Motley.
It is said that it will not be the logical policy of the electric railway company, with numerous damage suits possible, to accept the coroner's verdict or to even discharge Moad at this time.
(bio researched and prepared by NJBrewer)