The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-08-13
An Everyday KO,nnncc--Beath o. a
Street Railroad EEostlcr--The Ups
and hav nS of life.
From tie ChicngD Intcr-Occ


From the Chicago Intcr-Occan.
On the 18th of June the following item
appeared in the daily papers among other
casual reports Of accidents:
"Jalncs Thompson, an hostlcr in the barn
of the West Division Horse Railway Conn
many. situated OH Western avcnle near west
Lake street, met with terrible accident yes
tcrdav afternoon at o'clock while expert
mcnting with Il new pair Of horses attached
to II car. Bep" unused to the noise OF the
vehicle, the animals became unnlana2cahIc
and ran away. In the effort to stop them,
Thomson was thrown OFT the front plat
form. He fell under the car and the wheels
passed over both legs, manglinS them i'll Il
horrible manner. They will have to be alli-
putated. Thompson is single man, ard
boards at S14 west Washington street. 1t is
expected that he will not recover"
The Drognostication Of the reporter III this
respect proved correct. Mi. Thompson did
not recover lie died few days ago, and
although no coroncl's inquest was summoned,
and the man was allowed to pass to the grave
without any verdict having been rendered
ain accordance with the facts" the people
In his ncighborhood seem to have been deep
" Interested in the fortunes rl the obscure
hostler who came to tins unlimeiy end. The
IoltONfuH INtItlul hh"s ''''''
that even among sircct-car conductors or
stock-tendcrs in railroad compauy's barns
there may be sometimes tinse Of To-
nance:
About two months ago man giving his
name as James Thompson made III applical-
ton for employment to Mr. George i.
Coombs. the foreman of the stables of the
West Division Railway Company. The ar-
plicant was il man OH the sunny side of fifty,
who showed evidence, despite his rather
scedy attire and traces OF dissipation, that nc
was a MIN of culture, and who had, us the
phrase goes, seen better days. His first APP
plications were refused, but upon his cont
ing back Il third time, at Il time when the
stilbfe was in need of hands. he was given
employment in the capacity OF stock-tcndcN
1t was easy to sec from the moment hc CONF
menced his duties that il was something ell-
tirely foreign to his previous habits and en-
ployment, but he showed such alacrlty ana
Willingness that he mere than compensated
tor his ignorance, and soon can't to he con-
sidered as one OF the most available en-
ployes In the stable, and his gentlcmany
department speedily won for him tic ttiend-
ship Of his felow-laborcrs.
He had been employed exactly four weeks,
Which, on the afternoon Of the 18th OF june
he went out with Mr.. Coombs to try new
horse in street car. The trial over, the.
were returning to the stables on the car, the
foreman drivingand James Thompson stand
ing upon the steps of the car. Something
called the forenaii's attention for Il second.
and upon turning again to his companion he
saw that he had fallen across the track, be-
meath the fipnt truck. Before the car could
be stop,cd it had passed over both his legs,
below the knees, The superintendent OF
tho company and several other gentlemen
sitting ut the stables, u short distance away,
ran to the relief OF the injured man, whom
they picked up and carried to his boarding
house. ut No. STA Washington street. His
nervous system was so Frustrated by the
shock that he tainted and lay unconscious
for twenty.four hours, and it was doubtful
for some TIME If he could be restored at all,
As SOON rs he was able TO converse again,
Ae informed his attendants that lie had been
going under an assumed name, That his pro-
per name was John Thompson Diciferderfcr,
and that he had sister living in the city
whom he wished to be informed of his mis-
fortune. Intelligence was immediately con-
yeyed to the lady, who is the wife of II pro-
minent physician GA Wabash avenue, and she
aud her husband immediately came to his
bedside. The best medical assistance that
could be procured was obtained and every.
thing that money could obtain was furnish
Tor his comfort. A consultation of physIcIahs
decided that one of his legs would have to
be anputated, and it was done. The next
day after, the mans past history became
known by his own statements and the ac-
cunts given Of him by his friends A short
tine ago he was q prosperous wholesale mes-
chant in Baltimore, reputed to be very
wealthy, and moving in the higher circles Of
that place. But reFerses came. and in Il short
time he found himself stripped OF all his pro-
perry, and himself reduced to dependence
upon their wealthy relatives.
Proud and high-spirited to the last degree,
he could not bear to receive the condolences
of his friends, and stung to the heart by
every reminder of his fallen fortunes. he
left his wife in Baltimore and came to this
city to begin lifs s race anew. lie found an
Ola business partner here, an extensive
wholesale grocer on Lake street. who readily
employed him as a book-keeper as much on |
account OF his splendid business talents as
on the score OF old friendship. Hefil,ed tbis
position act eptlbly for some months, but his
troubles drove him to dissipation. and n een-
tie ieminder ON his employer to change his
habits was taken SO lily that he left his SER
y,ee abfiptis ana took to drinking worse
han ever. Shostl r after he also loft his bro
s.rtsiil-,ae, s ,.oiAe, where he had been given
Z homo sine, his arrival here, and no rspre.
sentahona could induce him to return. His
.4tx41sk Nf.Nss