Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-09-29
DEATH OF J. T. BROOKS HUNTER.

DEATH OF J. It. BROOKH HUNTER.
We were sincerely panied and shocked TO hear
Of the death of our young friend, j. T. B. Hunter,
formerly of Martinsburg, Virginia, and more
recently engaged in the engineer corps Of the
Memphis and Chattanooga Railroad Company.
The manner Of his death was truly distressing.
He was the victim Of one Of those railroad ac-
cidents that have become so frequent, and by
which so many valuable lives have been lost
His relations to ourselves were those not only
friendship. He was a manly, frank, intelligent
gentleman and endeared to all who knew him
by his gentle and affectionate disposition. With
those upon whom this blow must fall heaviest
we sympathise and condole, as we have no Ian
guage TO express. A private letter received
from friend, who was in conversation with
him but n moment before the fatal accident
says "he was faithfully and ably attended, and
had the sympathy and kind solicitude of the
whole community, where he was very popular"
We extract the following account Of the cir
cumstances OF his death from.on of the Mem
phis papers:
1T bciel our lot 10 he eye witness To the dis
tressug accident thai occurred the railroad last
Wednesday, and more heartrending, horrible
sight never before beheld, than the mangled
body of Mr. Hunter. Mir. H. belonged to the en-
gineer corps OF the road, having oticiated in that
capacity for some three years. but had, on that &C.
casion, volunteered his services as conductor. AT
the time OF the accident, he was standing the
rear end OF platform car, about the centre OF the
I Vnf.,
the Roadway of the cars was checked, and had
nearly come TO halt when the engineer, seeing
they would not reach the water station, started up
again, giving sudden jerk that threw many down
backwards, and Mr.. H.. in stepping back to pre-
serve his balance, fell i'll between two cars upon the
| track. The balance OF the train, four platform cars
and Ia passenger car, passed over him. managing and
mutilang his limbs in irighttul manner, breaking
the lett arm and leg, while the right leg was moi
broken, but the flesh laid OPEN exposing the bones
and lIgamemts from the ankle 10 his thigh As soon
as possible, a litter was made and Mr.. H. conveyed
10 II dwelling house near by, accompanied by Drs.
Creighton, Rice and Maddox, OF this city, and DR..
Todd, OF this county, where all was done for him
that could be until he died. about an hour and
twenty minutes after the accident.
:" Bruised and nlanged as he was not one word
of complaint or expression OF pain escaped his
lips, and not even while the physicians We're bind
hing up and dressing his wounds. He expressed
II Willingness and desire 10 die, knowing he could
not live, aud, retaining his TO the last. he
gave directions about the disposal of his effects.
| While lying upon the ground he called Mr.. Will
hanson, the superintendent of the road, gave him
| his watch and money, with request that they
shoua be sent to his sister, in Virginia. He told
Mr.. w. TO attach no blame to any one, az it was
| his own careessness that caused the accident.
| Mr.. Williamson feelings were very much wrought
upon the scene, being very much attached 10 MIR.
! Hunter, and, as the tears were starting from his
! eyes, he exclaimed: & would moi have had this
accident for ten thousand excursons-not for
worlds. When some one proposed 10 give him
some stimulants, he said No, let me die easy" He
afterwards requested the physicians 10 give some
thing 10 make him insensible 10 the pain and
chloroform was administered. More frmness and
heroic courage we never saw exhibited in any
man. under any circumstances; and il was at his
request that his relations should be informed that
he had acted and died nobly.
We had known Mr.. Hunter, we'll intimately
for over two years, and nober minded, high
toned gentleman we do not know During his ca
the road, he had won, by his manly bearing
amiably and suayity OF manners, the affection
and esteem OF all who knew him, and many there
are who sympathize deeply with his afflicted rea-
tons at his untimely and unfortunate death His
fellow-oaicers were all endeared to him, and they
mourn his loss as that Of brother, one Of their
own household. While his sister and brother
deeply mourn his loss il may be gratifying to them
! to know that his every want and wish at
tended 10, his dying bed surrounded by skillful
physicians and kind friends, and his remains in
tered in most respectable manner, followed TO
their last resting place by large concourse OF
citizens, the firemcn and officers of the road TO
| which he had been attached
| "Mr. Hunter was native Of Virginia. noble
son of the Old Dominion--and a nephew of the
| late Judge Tucker Of the Supreme Bench of that
State but not nephew of Hon. r. M. T. Hunter,
as stated by some of our contemporaries. He leaves
sister and brother, midshipman in the navy, of
| his immediate kin, 10 mourn his untimely fate.
| His parents died while he was yet at an early
! age