Patrolman William E. Nichols

William E. Nichols

Patrolman William Nichols was struck and killed by a Pennsylvania Railroad train at the crossing at the intersection of Baltic Avenue and Illinois Avenue (modern-day MLK Boulevard).

He had been posted at the crossing to assist school children in crossing the tracks on their way to and from school. He had walked two first graders across the tracks as a slow-moving train approached. He was crossing back to his post but did not see a second approaching train on another set of tracks that was blocked by the first train. As he stepped onto the adjoining tracks, he was fatally struck by the second train.

Patrolman Nichols was a U.S. Army veteran of the Spanish-American War and had served with the Atlantic City Police Department for 10 years. He was survived by his wife and six children.