Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-12-21
SAD ACCIDENT.
A Well-KnOwn Railroad Man Almost In
stantly Killed at John Il. Bitner's
Warehouse
" Escape Of william lsit

Marrow Escape Of William Either.
This morning between Z and 8 o'clocl!
NJohn Il. Reese, who resided ut the south.
west corner Of Prince and Walnut streets,
was almost instantly killed at ware
house belonging to John II. Btner and
situated i'm the rear of 2l2 North Queen
street. For about ten years Mr. Reese
has been employed by Mr.. Bitncr as a
conductor Oh his freight cars which run
between this city and Philadelphia. He
came home this morning from the latter
city. At the time stated above three cars
which he had in charge were being
shipped on the siding of the
warehouse 10y engine No. Sei
About eight feet from the end
of this siding and in direct line with the
track is an old wooden shed, which is used
for storing away wood, &c. On the track
at the end were eight railroad ties, which
are used to prevent the ears from run
ming of the end of the siding. Mr.. Reese
and William ii. Bitner, a son Of John II.
Bitner, were Oh the platform of the last
car when the signal was given to
back, the former having charge of
the brake. The train was backed with
such great force that the car on whicl,
the men were ran off the end of the sid
ing. jumped over the pieces of timber and
went crashing into the old shed. Young
Bitner saw the danger, and Went into the
door of the car saving his life. Mr..
Reese thought there was no danger and
remained at his brake, which he kept ap-
plying. He was crushed between the car
and the timber of the shed and died in
few minutes. lie was carried into the
house occupied by Joseph Baer as res
taurant. Afterwards his body was re-
moved to his late home.
1t was said by some that the cause Of
the accident was the failure of the brakes
to work, owing to the snowy condition Of
the track. Reese always kept his brakes i'm
excellent condition. Many think that the
accident was the cause of fast running,
and they ailegc that the train was being
backed at rate Of speed which was un-
necessarily high.
The deceased man was between 81 and
40 years Of age. He was married and
leaves a wife and three children. He has
always been sober industrious man who
enjoyed the confidence of his employer |
and had a great many friends.
Coroner Mishler impanelcd jury, con- |
sisting OF Capt. John A. Schulz, Jacob |
'Stauffer, Samson Resh, John Creamer,
jeremiah b. Snyder and -- Fisher. |
DIR. Compton made an examination of the |
body and found that one arm was broken
and there was a black mark about the ab-
domen. The injuries causing his death
were internal.
Later News.
This afternoon tho conductor, engineer
firemen and brakemcn Of the train which
shifted the cars were examined by the cor
oncr's jury. They testified that the cars
were not run in with moro force than
usual When the train started 20 back
the last of the three cars was about the
length Of car above the switch, and
when the engine stopped it was still above
the switch.
After the train had stopped Mr.. Reese
still beckoncd the engineer to come back
farther when the railroad men heard
that Reese was hurt they drew the cars
away as quickly as possible owing TO the
slippery condition of the track this morn
ing it was very difficult for brake to
hold the cars il they would slide they |
would be apt to run off. Mr.. Reese always |
told the rail- DAD men to get off, that he
wOnld take charge of his cars; when they |
reached Lancaster, they asked him if the ;