Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-05
MR.. JOHN STEVENSON
GREAT PROBABILITY THAT HE HAS
BEEN KILLED.
Believed to Have Been One Of The Victims
of the Norfolk and Western
Railroad Accident.

Another name must be aided to the list
of those who lost their lives in The Norfolk
and Western railroad accident.
It is that Of Mr.. John |. Stevenson, who
for most of his business life WAS in the en-
ployment of Mr. John Bowers, but for two
years was dealer in gas-fxtures marble
mantels, &c. in Pace's Block.
TRIP TO BIG-sTOHg GAP.
Mr.. Bowers having been offered large
contract at Big-StOne Gap. in Scott county.
determined to take Mr.. Stevenson lwho
had charge of that department of his busi-
ness) and 90 there and make personal in
spection OF the ground 10 obtain facts for
use in connection with his bid for plumb
ing timing, &c. They left here on
Wednesday. went TO Big-Stone Gap, and
came back to Bristol. Here the two part
ed-Mr. Bowers 10 go further into Iennes-
see, Dir. Stevenson TO return to Richmond.
AN ALARMING INQUIRY.
On the 2d of July Mr. Bowers telegraph
cd from Cleveland. Tenn. to Mr. Royal.
his book-kecper. asking, Where is Steven
son - The answer. Of course. was that he
did not know Up 20 that time no one
here had been apprised of the movements
hOmeward of the two gentlemen, but the
inquiry set Mr.. StevensOn's friends 20
thinking, and they began TO connect Mr..
Bowers's telegram with the railroad acci-
dent.
July 81 NJ. Bowers. Sr., telegraphed SIr.
John Bowers. j., TO 90 and look for Mr..
Stevenson. and be left oy the first train.
AT THE WRECK.
Yesterday father and son met at tho
scene Of the wreck and no doubt made all
the search they could. The res sat was
thev tele raphed Mr.. Royal TO inform Mrs.
Stevenson that her husband was killed IN
the wreck and his body burned up.
Mr.. Royal handed the telegram 20
brother Of Mr.. Stevenson and left him 10
convey the distressing intelligence 20 the
unhappy wife.
Mrs. Stevenson had been very uneasy
about her husband. as she had not heard
from him and thought he was sick and de
tanned on the route somewhere. she had
no knowledge that he was on the lll-tated
tram, and consequently did not associate
his absence with the railroad accident :; at
least she did not AT first. II may be that
that fear came upon her latteTly when all
her inquiries AT the store and elsewi ere
We're met necessarily with unsatisfactory
answers.
PERSONAL.
Mr.. Stevenson WAS about fifty years Of
age. BY trade he was a plumber and from
boyhood had been with Mr.. Bowers, who
had the greatest possible affection for and
trust in him.
His first wife was a Miss Shanks, Of which
union two sons survive. After her death
he married Miss Ada Smith. Of Henrlco
county, who is now his sorrOwing widow:
He was "A bright, sunny-tempcred. jOvial
man. and possessed an extensive acquaint-
ancc and "a great number Of friends. lie
was a Mason in high standing and Tom
plar also He has two brothers-Nlr.
Frank Stevenson. with the Old Dominion
Iron and NMl-Works Company here. and
Nj. Thomas Stevenson. OF Raleigh, y. 4.
40 INSURANCE.
Mr.. Stevenson was rather delicate man,
and possibly for that reason could get no
insurance on his life. At any rate, he was
uninsured. The day he left Richmond q
solicitor asked him and Alr. Bowers 10 take
out accident policies. Mr.. Bowers did So,
but Mr.. Stevenson did not.
Docpased's place of residence was ON
Main street q short distance west of Monroe
Park.
Mr.. Stevenson was "a member Of DR..
tlOge's church.
THE STEVENSON KILLED.
In the reports Of the killed in the acci-
dent the name of w. y. Stevenson. of
Tennessee" appeared. This was no doubt
OUT deceased fellOw-citiZen. lie got on
the train at Bristol. and therefore 10 may
have been that he was supposed ~ be
Tennessce8n. The error IN the initials Is
not 50 readily accounted Tor, but II may
have been the guess Of some survivor
some person with whom deceased became
ACQUAINTED On the train. The impT ssion
here is that our Mr.. Stevenson was the only
person of that name killed in the accident.