Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-12-15
KILLED ON HIS LOCOMOTIVE
The Train Brought to the Sta
ton by the Fireman.
STRUCK SENSELESS IN THE CAB
Surprising Accident to a Rail-
road Engineer.
Mysterious Fate of Engineer benjamin
Striker OF the r., w. y u. Engino--
Fatally Injured With His Hand on tho
Throttle, DUST as He Was Bringing His
Train into Wilmington Station--Prompt
Action of the Fireman.

Train into Wilmington Station--Prompt
Action of the Fireman.
Benjamin Striker, engineer of the New
York and Washington express train which
arrives i'll this city at 5.23 y. M, was the
victim of a fatal and mysterious accident
which occurred on the r., w. a. b. railroad
Saturday.
When the train was approaching Land
lith station he leaned out the cab window
and gahed down on hot box oil one Of
the driving wheels of the locomotive. Re
Stunning his position at the throttle he
said that when they reached town he
would attend to the hot box and told the
fireman, John Lynch, to look out for oil
ing. NJ. While crossing Brandywine
bridge the fireman noticed that the speed
OF the train had not been slackened and
concluded there was something wrong.
Usually steam is shut off at I.andlith and
from there the train drifts" into town.
Instead of crossing the bridge slowly the
express fairly shot over it, Calling to the
engineer the fireman inquired why the
steam had not been shut off but he re-
ceived no answer. Crossing over to where
the engineer sat he was mortified to find
him unconscious and in spasms, with a
gaping wound OH the left side of his fore
head from which blood flowed copously.
The wounded man clutched the throttle
with deathlike grasp, his hands were as
cold as ice, his blouse was saturated with
blood and the convulsiOns were the only
thing which indicated that he was not
dead. Partially recovering from his be-
wilderment the fireman shut off steam
and put on brakes and succeeded in bring
ing the train to a standstill at its usual
stopping place at French street station
Before the train stopped the fireman
blew two shrill blasts of the locomotives
whistle for the purpose of summoning
railroad employees to the engine. Station
Master Bris0n, Detective Jones and others
hurriedly responded to the signal and
climbing up to the cab lifted the engineer
out and had him carried to the railroad
hospital. To break the unfortunate mans
hold on the throttle considerable force had
to be used. Dr. Draper was Immediately
summoned and the work Of dressing the
wound quickly began. The skull was
mashed and the brains oozed from the
wound, which was large and deep and tri-
angular shaped.
AT 80 o'clock MIR. Striker was conveyed
to Delaware Hospital, where he died about
O'Clock yesterday morning. He cOntiil-
ned IN almost constant commissions. His
wife was with him when he died. She ar
rived here at lilo o'clock and proceeded
at once To the hospital. When she reached
the dying mans bedside he frightened mp
Gated that he recognized her, but he did
not speak He did net utter word after
the fatal blow was dealt An hour after
the death of her husband the bereaved
woman returned home.
The strain upon the fireman was terri
bic, but he bravely bore up under it until
he alighted from the locomotive and began
to talk about the accident, when he wept
and seemed almost heart-broken. His
behavior after his frlghtful discovery was
most praiseworthy. Railroad men say he
acted nobly, and heartily commend hls
bravery. Most men in his position, they
state, would have been unneryed and
would have permitted the train to dash
through town without making any
attempt to check its high speed Mr.
Lynch exercised good Judgment and
handled the locomotive we'll The train
came in the station slowly and made
good stop. When 1t resumed its Journey
to Washington the brave tiremen was at
his post in the cab, and Wilmington
engineer was at the throttle.
The cause Of tile accident is a matter of
conjecture. Judging from the shape of
the wound Mr.. Striker might have leaned
from the cab window again to look at the |
hot box and been struck by the corner of
a car. or possibly the locomotive cast up
something which struck him. Between
Landlith and the bridge there were many
llUlSllI StlS. IIle EfoHIltl WAS gone over
sunday by an investigating party, but
nothing which would unrayel the mystery
was found.
Deceased was 10 years old and resided at
70. l924 Wharton street, Philadelphia.
ms WIDOW was his second wife. He had
been an engineer on the road long time
ana years ago was fireman for Lemuel
Tufts, now road foreman of engines on the
Delaware division, He was Il member of
the brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
Ills remains were taken to Philadelphia |
Monday morning by >the 1O.i5 O'Clock |
Train.
Coroner Kirk empaneled jury Sunday |
afternoon. Immediately after organizing, |
witnesses not being present, it adjourned |
until Tuesday evening.
The Investigation by Goroner's jury of |
the death of Benjamin Striker, the r., w. |
Il i. railroad engineer who was nlysteri- |
uusly and fatally injured Saturday last |
while seated i'll the cab OF his locomotive, |
began Tuesday evening.
John j, Lynch, the fireman who was in |
the cab with Mr.. Striker, was the first wit |
ness called. His testimony corrnburated |
the above story. The best Of friendship, |
he declared, existed between him and the |
deceased. Their last conversation, near aS |
lie could recollect, was had while they
We're near Landlith ond was in reference |
to oiling the locomotive and pulling down |
the wedge IN the hot box. He first noticed |
there was something wrong when they |
were coming around on the straight near
Fourth street. There the engineer should
have been "holding up the train. Drop |
ping the bell rope he jumped over and
found the engineer us previously stated. |
lie did not notice amy obstruction ON the
railroad and could not tell how the eng-
neer got hurt. He thought the latter shut
off steam when they were near Brandy
wine bridge. He could not tell how far
the engineer put his head out the cab