Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-08
GEORGIA HISTORICAL sOCrErY.
CRUSHED TO DEATH BENEATH
A PUSHER.
Terrible Death of Two Employees
Ofthe Savannah. Florida and West
ern Railway.

Early yesterday morning considerable sem
sation was oecasioned throughout the city
by the report that two of the employees Of
the Savannah, Florida and Western Railway
had been run over In the depot yard by an
engine, and instantly killed. The rumor was
authentic, and investigation into the terrible
calamity revealed the following facts:
About half-past eight o'clock August
Gerber. an employee In the warehouse, and
SIgmont Zulawsky, cotton yard gateman,
were on their way to the company's shop,
some three hundred yards below the passen-
ger platform. They were walking down the
track and when reaching point about fifty
yards south of the cotton yard, and nearly
opposite the round house, or shops, they
were passed by the switching engine No. 9,
which was pushing a car out 1t is sup
posed that the men were engaged in earnest
conversation, and without realizing the
danger, stepped on the track Immediately
in rear OF the pusher, which they doubtless
were under the impression had con-
tinued on. Instead, however, the engine
shifted the car on to the side track, and at
once started back to make up train for
the Central Railroad wharf. The inference
is that ZulawskY and Gerber, utterly igno-
rant OF the danger of the situation, stopped
on one of the tracks for few minutes, en-
gagged in a discussion, and were unobserved
by the sWitchman IN consequence OF the
locomotive being between them and him.
They evidently did not hear or notice the
approach Of the engine, and the first init
nation the engineer had Of their presence
was faint cry from beneath the wheels.
Mr.. Gerber, who was slightly in advance,
was struck first and knocked
across the rails. His head was badly crush
ed, and his left ankle and lower parts of the
body were terribly mAngled. He was ur-
doubtedly killed instantly. Mr.. Zulawtky
was struck a second afterwards, before he
comprehended the situation or could get
out of the way. He was knocked down and
the wheels of the tender passing over his
body crushed the lower portion, breaking
his thighs and mangling his arm. His in
juries showed that ne could not have lived
five seconds after the accident occurred.
We are informed that neither OF the men
had any duties to attend to in that part OF
the yard, but we're on their way to shop
to attend to some private business.
The Coroner was at once notified, and,
empanneling jury, proceeded to the scene,
where the bodies were viewed, after which
the remains were properly dressed and con-
veyed to the respective homes OF the untor-
tunate men. An inquest was then held,
and the jury, after hearing a number of
witnesses, rendered a verdict that the de
ceased QaQ come 10 JutlF u6dIup ny OCIAS
run over by an engine, and that no blame
can be attached to the employees on the en-
CINE or the officers Of the road.
The following named parties were present
and gave evidence under oath to this effect,
to wit: r. H. Freeman, chief switchman, N.
Barnwell, engineer, w. j. GeaconghlY, con-
ductor, William Hutchinson, fireman, and
Denbo Norman.
Mr.. Gerber leaves a wife and two boys,
George. about seventeen years of age,
who is an employee as loading clerk in the
freight department of the Savannah, Florida
and Western Railroad, and another who is
an apprentice in the jewelry store of Mr..
Peter Lindenstruth.
Mr.. Zulawsky, 1t will be remembered,
was mounted policeman some years ago.
to which position he was appointed on the
recommendation of Gen. Joseph E. John
ston. He resigned from the force some
time ago, since which period he has been
employed in the depot yard. He was man
of fine appearance and thoroughly educated.
He was a Hungarian, and brother-in- law,
it is said, of Kossuth. He was always eff
ficIent and reliable, and was highly esteemed
by all who knew him. He leaves wife and
one child, and has a son living in Augusta,
Ga, a cotton broker.
The funeral notices of these unfortunate
men appear in the proper column.