South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-01-28
Accidental Death Of Ex-Govern-
or Francis Thomas, of Nd. -
Killed. on the Railway Track.

county, ex-Governor OF Maryland, and
late United States minister 70 Peru, was
accidentally killed Saturday afternoon
on the railray track, ahout one mile cas-.
OF Frankville station. Baltimore and o.
bio railroad, where he was engaged su.
! perintentiing improvements intended to
afford opportunity to breed fine sheep
/ procured by him in Peru aud brought to
this country last summer on his return.
While standing on the track ne saw a
Ire Sht train approaching from the east.
! and stepped to the South track TO avoid
II. At the sane moment a "helper' en-
1 gine came upon him from the west, ten
der" foremost, the approach of which he
had not noticed and did not bear. There
is short curve at this point. and the
/ engineer saws that as his engine round
ed the curve he saw Governor Thomas
walking on the track, with his arms fol-
| ded beaind him. and his head bent in a
! neditatlye mood. IL was too late TO
! give an alarm or check the speed OF the
engine, and liz moment il struck him
in the back. knocking him about twen-
" feet, on to pile of railroad bars be-
side the road The locomotive was
l
tai.ee Summoned, but life was extinct.
The body was not mutilated. A sevore
( confusion was found on the back OF the
/ head, and several near the spinal col
umn. The body was taken on hand
car 10 Frankyille, and thence 10 his
| house.
Previous to the unfortunate casualty
Gov. Thomas, who had just returned
from Washington city, stopped all of
| Friday in Cumberland on business
Saturday morning he returned to his
farm ut Frankville. He had 4 number
Of men engaged in getting out locust
posts for fencing piece of land recent
! ~ purchased, and devoted to sheep
! breeding. The men were OF work on
the moantain side along the line Of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. His spe-
cial object in visiting the location ut the
time he met bis death was to pay OF the
hands, As well as TO give directions in
regard to The work on hand
At a o'clock this Sunday morning
aspecial train, provided by the railroad
authorities, left Cumberland for Frank
vile, with Col. James VI. Sshley, Col.
ID. G. Bruce. Mr.. Webster Bruce, and
several other friends OF Gov. Thomas,
to take churgc of the remains, which
were brought to Cumberland and kept
at the Queen City Hotel The body
will remain here until ten O'clock Mon.
day morning. when they will be deposit
ted in vault at Rose Hill Cemetery
Ex-Governor Francis Thomas was
oorn in Frederick county, Nd, Febru.
AIRY 5, 1899, and was nearly seventy
seven years of age. He was educated
at ~. Johns College. Annapolis, was
admitted 10 the bar abont the year 1920,
and acquired large practice in the
counties Of Western Maryland. lie was
AZ one time the possessor OF a comfor
table icytune, the most OF which he hal
&C Jared by the practice OF his profess
istSn lie was q member of the Hou1e
/ o. delegates of Maryland in 1922. 1927
ald 1879, serving the last term as Speak.
e.. lie was president OF the Chs sapealss
and Ohio canal in lS39-4O.
Ex-Governor Thomas was the second.
Governor of Maryland elected by the
people. He succeeded William Grason
IN 1871, held the Office three years, and
vas succeeded by Thomas G.. Pratt
lie was Representative in the twenty
second. Twenty-third, Twenty fourth,
Even Y-fIth, Twenty-sixtl, Thirty-sey.
enth, Thirty-eighth, Thirty-ninth and
tortlcth Congresses. While in Congress
he applied 10 the Legislature for a di.
vorcs from his wife, who was Miss sal
lie Mcdowell, daughter Of Gov. Nc.
Dowell, Of Virginia, and lady OF rare
accomplishments. Coy. Thomas failed
to obtain g divorce in Maryland, but
Mrs. Thomas was subsequently, divorc-
cd from her husband by the Legislature
OF Virginia, She was afterwards happi-
~ married 70 Rev. Mr.. Miller, a Pres
byterian clergyman of Philadelphia, and
/ il is believed is now widow.
Governor Thomas was q democrat
! prior to 1861, and frequently stumpci
the State either as a candidate or in be-
half ofthc State and national tickets
lie possessed extraordinary qualities rs
popular political orator. and il rcmem.
bered rs taking part in the reform move
mont OF 1880 lie wa, elected 70
I the constitutional convention of 1850.
/ and prominent member OF that body.
/ In 1861 lie espousel the cause Of the
/ Union and gave encouragement 90 the
raising Of troops for the Federal army.
| He was elected to Congress in 1881. aud
remained in that body four terms. act.
! ing with the republican party. After
! the election Of President Grant. in 1870.
nc Was appointei collector OF internal
revenue for the Cumberland district. aud
held tdat position Until April. 1872.
/ when be was appointed by The President
90 United'Slates minister TO Peru, which
position no resigned during hepast year.
when lie retired from public life. and en-.
gsged iu Che practice Of Law at Cumber.
land. and in wool growing upon his farm
in Garrett county. where he met lis
death. lie sailed for Peru in May. 1872
and returned in the summer Of 1915
Tor several years before the war he led
secluded life in the Alieganics. Al
though Governor Thomas was seventy
seven years ofage. be was hale and pos
ses5ed r vigorous constitution. aad but
4 ..tt. L..