Original scenario in question:
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With two outs, a BR overran 1st without touching it. The fielder realized it and tagged the runner as an appeal and the runner was out.
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It has been clarified that the "fielder" was the player who received the throw at 1B in an attempt to retire the BR.
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L. Missing First Base Before the Throw Arrives. When a runner passes first base before the throw arrives, they are considered to have touched the base unless properly appealed. On appeals involving the double base, when the batter-runner touches the white rather than the colored portion and a play is made, the same procedure applies. When an appeal is made in both situations, it must be made prior to the runner returning to first base while the ball is live.
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This is a rules supplement, not a mechanic. It does however show that in the OP the BR was considered to have touched the base by rule (8.3.B) which means the BR is not out in accordance with 8.2.B.
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No where does it state that I "must" signal the runner safe.
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"Must", no it doesn't say "must". However, the proper mechanic is as follow:
Now that the rules have deteremined that this runner is safe, the mechanic as noted on page 228 of the Umpire Manual states:
The base umpire indicates decisions through simultaneous verbal and visual signals. Umpires signal SAFE when a runner has beaten a play. They punctuate a vigorous SAFE signal with a verbal SAFE call.
Please note that it reads "beaten the play", not "is safe in the absolute".
ASA, and many of the other softball rule sets, consider an appeal for a missed base a separate play and not a continuation.
On any play like this the umpire should hesitate to make sure s/he got the full picture of the play and then make the call. The manual also states is should be a hesitation, not a delay. Even on a similar situation at home, the mechanic calls for a hesitation and if the catcher does not make a tag on the play, to call the runner safe.
I'm done with this one.