Daily Republican., 1884-02-18
THIRD EDITION,
A FHI0nTFUL DEATH.
A Mas Attempts 10 Beard Moving
Train and II TerribIy MangIed.

A Mas Attempts 10 Beard . Moving
Train and 10 TerribIy MangIed.
Another frightful accident occurred
at the p, w. Il B. Railroad station in
this city, about IL o'clock Ou Saturday
night, the particulars of which are
about as follows
The express train due in this city at
IL D. m, was over an hour late on Sat
urday night, and upon isarrival here,
q gentleman alighted and inquired
how long a stop was made. Upon being
told that it would not leave for ten
minutes, he hastily made his way to
the Grand Union Hotel, where he par
took of lunch at The restaurant IN
that place.
When he paid his bill and started for
the train it was moving out OF the sta
tion and he quickened his pace. Upon
his arrival within grasping distance OF
the cars the train was well under way.
John McCaulley, employed at the bag
gage room, observing that he was
about to leap on board, warned him OF
his danger but the man did not heed il,
and in making the leap, missed his
footing, and was dragged the whole
length of the station and finally thrown
under the wheels of the car in the vicin-
ity of the water tank, and horribly
mangled before the train was brought
to a stand still
Special officer Charles Thomas, as
soon as he saw he man being dragged
along, ran to his assistance but arrived
too late to cave him from being crushed
as the train came to a stand sill Mr.
Thomas dragged the manged body
from beneath the car, while William
McFadden, employed at the station, ran
for st etcher. AS soon as the man
was dragged from beneath the car he
exclaimed Oh my !" gasped few
times and expired before the stretcher
arrived. The dead body was removed
to the hospital, opposite the station, and
Deputy..Coroner Palmer being notified
removed it to the morgue and p aced it
on ice.
After viewing the remains Mr. Harri-
son telegraphed to General Rethune, of
Warrenton, Va, the father of the de-
ceased, for instructions AZ to the dis
pOsal OF the remains. From information
it was learned that the deceased was
born in Georgia in 1888, and during the
late war was colnel in the Confederate
army. After the close of the war the
family removed to Warrenton, Va.
General Bethune, the father of the dead
man, is the author of a book that was
written az retutatiOn OF the infdel
teachings of Colonel "Bob" Ingersoil,
and among the papers found on the
body of the deceased were receipts for
money paid to the publishers of that
volume.
Upon investigation it was learned
that the unfortunate mans name was
John G. Bethune, manager Of the Blind
Tom Concert Company. and was en-
route from Jersey city to Washington
The man was apparently about So years
OF age, 8 feet 10 inches III height and
weighed about 200 pounds. He was
finely dressed and was of fire physical
development.
In respuse to kilograms sent yester-
day, full description of the deceased
was gwen, which corresponded with
the above. l. f. Harrison of Stein
way Hall, New York, an intimate
friend OF the deceased, ,ar ived here at II
O'Clock last night, and other friends fol.
lowed on the So train this morning
Tne t0riuan visited Mr.. Palmer under
taking establishment, in company with
officer Thomas. aud immediatly iudrn-
tltifd the remains az those of his Old
ard highly esteemed friend John &.
Bethun- and his grief at beho!ding the
sad fate of his friend, was sOrrowful in
the extreme. Colonel Bethuue, the de-
ceased, has been Blind Tom 5 manager
ever sir ce his first appearance on the
concert platform, and the blind boy
was devotedly attached to his kind
young master, " as he was wont TO call
him, as he always used HIM with til
greatest kindness
Blind Tom was save OF Gprerai
Bethnne's, and when the Emancipation
Proclamation went into effect the laws
OF Georgia required the owners OF all
lmbeclies and cripples 10 send them TO
the poor house or give bonds for their
support. General Bethune gave bond
OF S., 600 for the support of Blind Tom,
who was supposed to be an imhecile,
without knowing Of the wonderful
musical abilities that afterwards d vel
oped themselves in The boy, whose Old
parents still live on the Bethune estate,
Blind Tom, who is now an old mau,
will be terribly shocked when he hears
of the death OF his kind manager, and
1t may perhaps have "A tendency to short
en- his days.
Up to noon to-day no word had
been received FROM his father, and it is
not yet known what disposition will be
made of the body. No inquest has yet
been held.
1t is stated that the deceased wasl
unmarried and resided with his SIS
ter at Washington, whittier he was
going at the time Of his death, he
having been in New York on legal b,Isi-
Lt>S
1t is also stated that suit has been
pending in New York. hrOuglt bv
woman who claims to he his wife, and
1t was on business relating to that mat
ter that he had been in that city. In
proof Of this AZ soon as the news of his
sudden death reached New York two
members Of the legal fraternity left that
city and were inv Wilmington tEis morn.
ing. They We're joined by the lady who
claims TO be his wife, WHO is now quar-
tered at the European Hotel. One of
the legal gentlemen is acting for the
lady's attorney, who was sick and un-
able 70 leave home, while the other law
yer # presents the deceased in the case
now pending.
1t is not known what the lady or her
attorney propose to DO in reference TO
the disposition of the body, as no formal
demands have been mad, but it i,
thought they are merely waiting to SEE
what the deceaseds friends propose do
ing.