Story from Waynesboro Record, October 5, 1911
Original spelling/typos as they appear in the clipping kept intact for the genealogy record
GASOLINE FLAMES WRAP BODY OF CALVIN SMITH
Gasoline Flames Wrap Body of Calvin Smith…Engineer of Railroad Pump House at Highfield fatally burned by explosion was a long Railroad Employ.
Calvin Smith, engineer of the Western Maryland Railroad pumping house at Highfiled was so badly burned by the explosion of gasoline Wednesday evening that he died at 9 o’clock the next morning.
Mr. Smith, whose home was at Highfield was in charge of the gasoline and steam pumps which supply water to the W.M.R tank at the point where the Gettysburg branch leaves the main line of the W.M.R.
Mr. Smith went down the steps to the gasoline engine room carrying a lantern about 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening. It is believed that the gasoline tank had a leak. As soon as he entered the room there was a terrific explosion, which set fire to Mr Smiths clothes, enveloping him in flames. Mr. Smith ran from the engine room and shrieked for help. Railroad men in a caboose nearby heard him and hurried to his aid. His external injuries from the flames did not seem to be of such severityy. Next morning, however, he began to sink rapidly and death came at 9:00 a.m. It is probable that he inhaled some of the flames.
Calvin Smith was about 60 years old. He was a native of the neighborhood of Highfield and lived there almost all his life, except for a while when he was section formen on the W.M.R. and resided in Fairfield. He is survived by his widow (Nancy) and five daughters. Mrs. Herbert McGlaughlin (Highfield); Helen, at home; Florence: Mrs. Charles McClain, near Blue Ridge Summit residing with her father; and Minnie Martin, married and living near Shippensburg.
Recorded from the Waynesboro Record, Waynesboro, Pa. October 5, 1911
