The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-13

The river front, from Unionl to Poplar
streets, has become regular death-trap.
Just how many people have lost their
lives there under tho wheels OF railway
locomotives and cars would be difficult to
state, but the number is startling.
Another one was added TO the list about
40 O'Clock Yesterday afternoon. lie was
n cOlOrcd man, about forty years OF age,
named John Stewart, and resided with his
family in Fort Pickering.
Stewart was a lcVcc laborcr employed
by Contractor John Sharp, and Just prior
TO his tragic taking OF, was engaged in ms.
sisting at the unloading Of the steamer
Rosa Ice. The job completed ut the hour
named, lao was making for Sharp's office
TO receive payment, carrying ON his right
arm coat and lunch basket, aud In his
left hand n cotton hook. lie had reached
a point at the foot OF Union street, between
the Chesapeake X Ohio and Mississippi K
Tennessee railroad tracks. To the south
OF him and backing north was a switch
engine and train OF ears on the former
track. To the north, on the latter road,
six freight cars, In front Of engine No. %,
stood but n few feet away. There was
no ilagman, as usual, but a rail-
road employee sat on the end Of the front
ear. Stewart attempted ~ cross the Chos-
apcakc track, became alarmcdat the prux-
unity oi the moving train, and slepped
backward upon the Mississippi 4 Tenncsco
with no suspicion that danger threatened
him. just M he reached place Of
iancicd safety and stopped for the train
IN his front Ia pass, that ON the track In
J the middle Of which he WIS standing came
along. II caught him unnwarcs, knocked
him down, aud showed him along the
track distance Of several yards before
the dcath-dealing wheels could be checked.
According 10 the statement Of the man
who occupied the point OF observation on
top Of the forward ear, he never saw the
human obstruction until the train wa
signalcd 10 stop 10y some one else and hi-
attention was then called 10 II.
When removed from in front Of the cal
wheels, which had never passed over tho
PROSTATE form, Stewart WIS liielcss aud
broken In number of places. Both leg,
wcrn mutilaicd and shattered aud his
body wis crushed about the waist.
Strange 10 relate the clothing WIS not
torn.
Tho victim was removed 10 place
where passing trains would not interrupt
Squire Garyin WIS summoned, Jury oI
inquest impanclcd aud the investigation
into causes leading TO his death began.
Tho testimony was Of the same tenor ~
the foregoing details aud the Jury returned
n verdict strongly censuring the railroad
company for not living up 10 the local reg.
ulations requiring ilagman at every
crossing, and charging tho parties rcspon.
sihlo with mauslaughtCr.
| William T.. Bycrs, engineer, and w. T.
Whitney, fireman, Of engine No. -, worc
arrested. Taken to the station. house a
charge Of manslaughtcr was lodged against
them aud they wcrc lockcd up. An hour
or two later Mai Mike Burke, supcrin.
tcndcnt Of the mad, went the security OF
the prisoners, to appear ior trial whenever
the eases were called. Jack Mnnion, the
lone one armed ilugman, who il expected
10 guard every crossing for three or four
squares along there. was also arrested ON n
charge OF criminal carclrssncSs in not flag.
ging down the train. lie, too, was re-
leased on q forfeit.