Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-12
SACRIFICES HIS LIFE
TO PREVENT HOLOCAUST
WALTER p. CAVE PROVES HERO
OF WRECK
Coroner's Inquest Develops Fact That
Santa Fe Fireman Was Killed
While Trying to Close Emergency
Oil Valve Before Engine Struck
Special to The Herald.

SptCldl W L lie I1eIalu
RIVERSIDE, Dec. 11.-Walter =.
Cave died the death of a hero last
Thursday morning when he stuck to
bis post, while his train raced on to
certain destruction at the derailing
switch where the engine was over
turned and the brave freman's life
was crushed out
Testimony taken today at the coro-
ner's inquest developed the fact that
the fireman remained on the tank of
the demolished locomotive making a
despalring effort to close the emer-
gency oil valve.
Caves effort to stop the flow of oil.
and thus prevent the awful holocaust
which he foreSaw when his onrushing
engine should strike the crowded
Southern Pacific passenger car, re-
suited in the sacrifice of the fearless
young mans life.
When the shattered locomotive was
lifted from the lifeless body of the
young man the emergency valve was
found to be closed, and the railroad
men who were examining the wreck
stood for moment silent and with
barred heads above this mute evidence
of the mans heroic sacrifice of his life
that others might live.
Engineer McArdale testified that
when he shouted for the fireman to
jump for his life the young man sprang
back to the emergency valve and died
with Il smile on his lips.
The coroner's jury refrained from
placing the blame for the flreman's
death. In their verdict, however. rail
road men here see a sensible and hu-
man recommendation that derailing
switches should be placed at all points
where trains are not likely to plunge
over embankments.
Fireman Refuses to Jump
In his testimony, A. f. Gill, night
operator and towerman in tower 10,
said that when the Southern Pacific
train No. 202, approached the tower
house and whistled for signals he gave
the engineer the signal to enter the
interlocking area This train entered
the block with the rear car across the
Santa Fe tracks. Santa Fe train No.
5 came around the curve and whistled
for the block, but he could not give it
as the other train locked the signals
1t was impossible to give a signal or
close the derailing switch, which was
opposite the block.
Conductor Archie Cowan of the Santa
Fe train testified that his train usually
stopped at the junction to allow the
Southern Pacific train to go by. When
he saw the danger on Thursday he
called for the emergency brakes and
thought they responded as quickly as
usual.
John McArdale. engineer on the ILL
fated Santa Fe train, said that he was
an extra engineer and was making the
trip for the first time with engine and
crew. He did not whistle for the dis
tance signal because he could see the
white light. which gave him a clear
1
account of the darkness. He had shut
off his steam and put on the air before
he came to the target. When he saw
the home signal against him he found
that his air was weak and that he
could not stop. He jumped on the left
side and called to Fireman Cave to-
jump on the same side, but he said
Cave only smiled and climbed out on
the tank. When next seen the engine
was ON top of his dead body,
Conductor Cowan corroborated the
testimony OF the engineer, as also did
Brakeman O'Brien.
Makes Humane Suggestion
The verdict in full of the corners jury
follows:
1--WE, the jury, find that the deceased
came TO his death from being pinioned
Under the oil tank of engine No. 447 of
train No, on the Santa Fe tracks near
tower No. 10. We, the jury are unable
to place the blame ON any particular
cause or person. but we recommend that
all railroad crossings at tower No. 10l
be filled up to the level of their road
bed, so that upon the opening of the
derailing switch the engine can run out
on a level, and not so greatly endanger
the lives Of their employees.
1--WE further recommend that two
men be employed at such intersection,
one as towerman and another as opera
tor, so that there will be no necessity
TO stop trains across each others tracks.
and that said trains be compelled to go
outside the safety block before coming
to stop.
1--WE further compliment the memory
of said Walter p. Cave that I'm the very
last moment of life his acts were TO pre-
serve the safety TO passengers by stay
ing at his post and closing the emer-
gency oil valve"
Railroad Strike in Georgia