Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1908-02-15
PLACE BLAME ON
DEAD ENGINEER
Williamson Was Running TO
Get to Wife'S Bedside When
he Was Killed

The wreck of the Philadelphia Or
chestra special on the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad was shown by investi-
cation yesterday to have been due to
the action of silas Williamson the en-
gineer. in running past danger signals
displayed to warn him that the freight
train into which he crashed was
shifting on the tracks ahead
Mrs. Williamson. wife Of the engi-
neer. is critically i'll and williamson
was called from her bedside to run
the special which carried him to his
death. Fears are now expressed for
Mrs. Williamsons life.
In the half mile dash Immediately
before the special train plowed into
the rear of the shifting freight cars,
it passed three danger signals. The
frst-a green light-cautioning go
slowly" then a red light calling for
an immediate full stop. then another
red light, the final signal Of peril to
a railroad mantle signal for an
open switch.
A dense fog hung over the tracks.
neer. as he was dying in the Chester
Hospital were, They gave me a white
light"
Fog Confused Engineer.
The explanation given by the rail-
road officials for the apparent negli-
gence Of the engineer is that in the
fog he mistook the first green light
for white, the signal for a clear track.
With the big engine pounding along
at a forty mile an hour gait william
son came around a curve upon the
first red light. He threw on the brakes
and reversed his engine.
On the treacherous rail covered with
mist the ponderous locomotive slid un-
checked by the brakes for the last hun
dred yards Of its race and struck the
freight train with but slightly dimin-
ished speed.
Superintendent Voorhees,, OF the Bal
timore and Ohio railroad, who was the
first official TO reach the wreck and
remained on the scene all day, Off
cially reported that the crash was due
to Engineer Williamson running past
the danger signals.
Friends of Williamson said yester-
day that if the assertion of the rail-
road officials was correct and he rar
past danger signals set against his
train. it was due to the engineer
troubled state of mind over the serious
illness of his wife.
Williamson was called to run the
special train to Wilmington and re.
turn. His wife has been an invalit
for years, and since last Thanksgiving
DAY has been confined 20 her bed. The
lengineer was averse to leaving his
wife. but he was a railroad man frs
land last.
Mrs. Williamson May Die.
Mrs. Williamson complained becaus
he was compelled to leave her side
Williamson bent over and kissed her.
Never mind. DEAR" he said.
won't be gone long"
His mangled body was returned I
his home. sos Elmwood avenue, las
. night. Williamson had worried great
lily over his wife's precarious conditio
following an operation. His friend
noticed a change in his manner. II
became preoccupied while away fror
home. but always managed to &C
lcheerfully while near his invalid wife
: Il broke the news Of fathers deaf
4 to mother this morning" said Clarenc
Williamson last night. 1T was a Sc
] we're shock to her, and I do not thin
she will live long now. Her condition
was serious enough before father wa
J killed, and 1 fear that she will sooi
die too as a result of the accident"