The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-12-29
"sTIck TO THE THROTTLE
st. Augustine Record

Free of all bitterness, and marked by
really fine understanding, is q letter writ
ten to Engineer r. A. Howell of the Allan
tic Coast Line Railway freight train, which
figured recently in the school bus crash at
Crescent City, with consequent loss of ten
lives.
The father of Elsie Gorton, one of the
youthful victims of the tragedy, addressed
letter to the engineer, in which simple,
brave message of courage was conveyed.
He says Il want you to know that do not
hold you to blame for this thing. I know
you could not help it. was once in the
same position that you are now. lost my
nerve and have never pulled again. Now
flor one don't want you to losesyour nerve.
Brace up and stick to the throttle. It is
hard for me TO write this letter, but / want
to save you the sorrow of losing your nerve.
Stick to the throttle as | should have done,
and it will please me much better than il
you gave up. Please think Of your family
as they need you and your earning power.
Work is hardto get, and know, as / am a
wreck of a World War veteran. do not
draw penny and am trying to make a liv-
ing out of one hand and piece Of an
other"
Where would one find a more gallant
message? Out of heart torn with sorrow,
the crushed father turns to comfort the an
guish of one who unwittingly figured in
the accident that took the life of his be-
loved child and other little children
Out of his fortitude and courage he
theirs and mothers and they also tell me
that they do not hold you to blame. So
please try your best to forget it, and you
will make me and my wife very happy"
We pity the parents of the children
who lost their lives in this tragedy, and
rightly SO. And like the gallant father of
Elsie Gorton, our heart goes out to the poor
railway engineer, who wept as he recount
ed the story of the accident and told of the
horror that swept over him as he saw the
bus loom up on the railway crossing and
knew that tragedy was inevitable.
Railway engineers live in dread of
killing reckless motorists. They are re-
sponsible for the safety of those who ride
In the passenger coaches, and then have
added to this anxiety the fear of encounter
ing reckless automobiles at various cross
ings, The railway is operating on its own
right of way, on tracks laid down before
the highways, which now cross and recross
the tracks, were built. All crossings are
plainly marked and warnings posted, in
Guiding the state law that requires all mo-
florists to come to full stop before cross
ing the tracks. The only way that acct
dents can happen is through violation of
rules of safety that have been formulated
for the protection of the public. The rail-
way engineer is operating his train on
schedule. The safety of his passengers and
those on other trains is dependent on meet
ing that schedule, and keeping tracks
cleared according to the railway time
table. He gives the customary warning
blasts upon approaching crossings. and
more than that he cannot do The rest is
up TO the motorist, and the, fac. that reck-
less or careless drivers are constantly TAX
ing risks makes life one long, wearing anx-
iety to the man who holds the Throttle BIT
Ire sAuat keep his nerve and courage and
80 on. in the face of tragedy!