The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-01
Engineer, Broken-heartcd,
Asks Only for a Chance

Engineer Hildebrand appeared the pic
ture Of desolation as he talked about the
accident yesterday afternoon. He was
found in one corner of his prison scan
ming the paper which contained the
frightful number of dead victims as we'll
as those who are probably MANNED for
life
The big frame shook perceDtibly as
two kindly blue eyes went slowly down
the column, making sure that it was not
a dream in which arose the long list OF
casualties. His lips quivered. his once
firm hand trernbled, and upon his face was
stamped that look which is only seen
upon a person who is suffering mental
agony. He feels his position keenly. He
related his story with tears streaming
down his rough but kindly features
1T seems hard" said he, TO be con-
fined here for something that I would not
have had to happen for anything in the
world. A person who has never been
through anything of this kind can't sym
pathize with me. Why all during the
day have suffered agony. Yes. my God.
it has been nothing but mental agony
were lost. Why did il happen? But, so
far as I was concerned, il could not be
helped.
Let others say what they please, I
swear that there was no signal for me
to stop. In my career as an engineer.
have endeavored to be just as careful as
possible.
"On every run exercised the greatest
precaution, and my crew can say that I
didn't lay aside this precaution. We left
Frederick with eight cars for Washington
last night They were empty. and, al
though my train was behind time, 1 was
not going over twenty-five miles an hour
at the time the accident occurred Those
who say that 1 was exceeding fifty miles
an hour do not know what they are talk
ing about.
Could Have Seen Signal
MY engine was one of the largest in
the Baltimore and Ohio service, and, in a
crash. will do damage, even if it goes no
faster than five miles an hour. AS I ap-
preached Takoma looked out Of the
cab window, and, although it was foggy,
could have seen the red signal had it
been placed there. But 1 say there was
no danger signal, and, in the absence of
this, thought that I had clear track,
/ and didn't stop.
"I do not desire to shift the blame on
anybody God knows. all Of us have
| enough trouble without having any need
| less trouble placed upon Us. I think that
owe it to myself. however, to let the
public know that I did not disobey orders.
4 wish 10 assert that saw no red light,
which every engineer knows is a danger
signal, and didn't stop. When 1 did see
the train ahead of me, made every effort
to stop to avoid crash, but il was impos-
sible, and the result we all see.
0nIy Ask Fair show.
"Oh, l hate to think of it, for it is too
horrible to even mention. Think of all
those lives being crushed out in an in
slant If / live to be a hundred years
old. will not get over it. Why, l wouldn't
hurt a hair in any mans head if / could
prevent II. Others have had their say, and
all / ask is that they give me a fair show,
and 1 think that ! can prove that I was
not to blame for the accident and its
fearful consequences.
The other members of the crew listened
intently to the imprisoned engineer, and
they were emphatic in the assertion that
there was no light visible at Takoma OF
Sunday evening.