The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-12-06
HORRIRLE AcCIDEHT.
George Runhl GFolnd 70 q JolIy ~ ths
P,W. = Ky. DsPOt-Ths PartisnlaRl,

P.,W. = Ky. DsPOt-Ths PnriienlaFs.
Yesterday morning an accident happened
at the north end Of the p, W. 4 Ky. palsen-
ger depot by which George BunAll, deck.
hand on board the Belle Prince, lost his life,
being run over and crushed into an unrecog-
niEable mass
The morning freight train, with passen-
ger car attached, arrived At the yards In North
Wheeling yesterday morning At the usual
time, about o'clock, and was taken in
charge by the yard crew, engine No. Is, John
Mulligan engineer being attached 70 the
front Of the train. The train started for the
freight depot at q speed Of about six miles an
hour. At the Water Works, the engine, as is
usual, was cut loose, and ran on ahead OF the
train in order TO get on the switch at
the passenger depot, 50 as 10 let tue
train pass and then back down
80 as TO push the cars into the freight
depot. The switch lock Is about midway of
the depot platform, and the engine had pass
ed this, Il had been changed, and the engine
coming forward had entered the switch and
was standing still. The switch had again
been changed, 50 that the cans coming down
the track would have been carried straight
on down the main track over the wharf. The
cans were coming slowly, not over four miles
Just before they reached the platform Bum
all came up the bank and started TO walk in
front OF the cars II appeared as though he
was endeayoringto see how long he could stay
on the track and not be hit. John Joyce
brakeman who was at the switch yelled
TO him, but be paid no attention, and TO the
horror Of all who were about he was seen to
be struck by the car and knocked forward.
II Is thought that the forward trucks OF the
flrst car passed over his body, but the rear
trucks caught him and commenced rolling
him, the cracking OF the bones being dis
tnctly heard, Had the train been going fast
II would undoubtedly have kept the track,
but as 1t was gong slowly the body OF Bun
ill sulIiced TO throw four cars from the track,
and 1t was not until the heavy train had
passed along at least four car lengths that 1t
was stopped.
The engineer of the engine on the side
track saw the man as the first trucks passed
over him and blew for down brakes, which
was obeyed and accounted for the sudden
sloppage OF the train. The sight presented
was an awful one, the cars being twisted
about the platform planks torn up and
splintered, blood all around and pieces Of
flesh scattered along; while under one Of the
cars lay quyering mass that had once been
human being 1t was gathered up rs soon
as possible and laid out while Squire
Philips, who had been notified, summoned
corOner's Jury, composed OF James Raush,
HeOrge Price I. q, Martin, Dan Whitehead,
Joseph Troy, VIM. Troy, b. ]. MiFaben, O.
D. Britt, Charles Sharp. ]. b. Wherry, J. II.
Tappan and W, II. Stansbury,
The Jury viewed the body and then adj
journed to private office, where the follow
ing persons were examined:
John Mulllgun, engineer and Dan Kurt
man, fireman, testified as to how running
switch was made and in regard to the blow
ing OF the whistle.
John Joyce, the brakeman at the switch,
testified that he had yelled TO the man.
Charlie Hull testified that he was on the
end OF the rear car at the brake, and did not
see the man; did not know that anything had
been struck until he felt the Jolt.
Captain Vim. Prince testified that Bunfll
was u sober industrious man, about twenty
three years old had been married last March,
and that his home was at Stewards Landing,
near Slstersville.
One or two OF the jury had been very per.
sistent during the trial as TO what the effect
would have been, had tlagman been on duty,
and the verdict was, after reciting the fact OF
the death, that the same might have been
avoided had flag been used. The city or.
dinance says that a ilagman shall proceed
moving trains, on foot, along the wharf be-
tween the two depots, but the accident hap.
pened north Of the passenger depot
A force OF men were put to work, and soon
Ind the cars on the track, and by evening the
platform was repaired. The body lay on one
side OF the track forspveral hours, aiIorllng q
disgusting sight; II was finally taken down
the river on boat to his home.
The general opinion was that the accident
was the result OF the mans own foollshness,
and that the railroad employees could not be
blamed.