Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-09-18

His own admission that he SLEPT
while he should have been awake
and alert to all danger, with has hand
upon the throttle, probably will mean
a term in the penitentiary for Engi
neer A. C. Carlson, pilot of the i'll
fated C.. h. q G. freight that Sunday
night caused the death of sever
known and possibly one more man
and serious injury to half dozcr
others at EarIville.
A coroner's jury, impanelled by
Coroner Donoghue, held Carlson as
well as Fireman J. c. Long and G. J
Hickman. the crew in charge of en-
gine 50C6. responsible for the wreck
and they will be made to answer. tC
the October grand jury, Chief re
sronsibiity. however, rests upon The
shoulders of Carlson who now Is in
an Aurora hospital. with sprained
hack, received when he suddenly be
came aroused and jumped from the
engine cab In safety II is possible
that Long and Hickman will escape
punishment as n result of the cngi
neer's admissions.
Warrants are now being prepared
for service upon Carlson and as soor
as he Is sufficiently recovered to per
nit his removal TO Ottawa he will be
brought here and lodged in the coun
ty jail, to await the action of The
grand jury on manslaughtcr charges
States Attorney George s. Wiley has
taken entire charge Of the case anc
this morning announced that Carlson
should be punished for his gross neg
lect and that information will soon he
issued against the engineer guaran
teeing his appearance before ties ban
of Justice to face his aCcusers.
States Attorney Wiley together witt
Deputy Sheriff Mischko, were on hanf
at the inquest thruout the Afternoon
and gathered much evidence that vii
be used against Carlson,
Carlson's confession was made tC
the Kane county coroner. whore IN
quests were held over two OF the vie
Tins
20, Cod" he cried 20, Cod W
awful, It's awful"
The last signal block that he re
membered seeing was at merriam
about ten miles east Of the pom
where his train plowcd into the stocl
train
Medicine Brought Sleep.
~ don't know what made me dr0l
off" he said, unless it was some men
icine that had been taking for
heavy cold had been laying of be
cause | was not well, and hadn
worked for three days when ! tool
NV engine out of GaloSburg on thl
run"
Carlson said he awoke with a star
when he was almost upon the othe
train and eaped out into the dar
Just as the crash came.
Given Ample Warning.
That there IL absolutely no excuS
for the wreck is shown by the test
monv of witnesses who gave lncril
mating facts against Carlson. Brake
man T.. W. Johnson, of Galesburg. tci
titled that he left the train when
was "blocked" at Earlville. an
walked to the rear quarter OF
mile or more, where he stood on guar
with danger signal. When the so
ond section driven by Carlson, a.
peared he frantically waived his lal
tern in an effort to flag him, but wit
out success. He remained on u
tracks crcling his lights until force
TO step aside to let the death ireig'
rumble by.
Fireman ! f. Long, who was ha
ing his first trip over the mali
line, was at the automatic coal fee
replenishing his supply OF fuel. II
back was toward the brakeman al
consequently nc did not see hi
Head brakeman, G J. Hackma
whose place ordinarily is in the ca
was sitting on the right side of Il
tender and he was unable to s.
Brakeman Pohnson. He. howevt
was first to see the danger ahead, b