The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-05-20

The Coroner's Jury In the Case of john
Cock Return . sealed Verdict.
Special 10 the Standard.
MIssoULA, May 19.-It was q cad and
sickening sight which greeted the coro-
ner's jury shis forenoon. M they entered
the morgue mt the Northern Pacific hospi-
tai. There lying on a stretcher was all
that was mortal Of John Cook, the fire
man who lost his life In the wreck in the
Missoula yards this morning. "A CLEANED
from nm inspection Of the premises and
from the testimony offered at the inquest,
the circumstances of the accident were as
follows: Freight train No. 16 consisting
of nine loaded and two empty cars and q
caboose drawn by an immense moRul
freight engine pulled into the Missoula
yards from the west nj about z AS this
morning. Six cars were furnished with
air qrahrs and the engine had also back
ing brakes. Ii IL customary for freight
trains To run into n Of the two switches
on the left side OF the main track. Engi-
neer II. NJ. Martin says they were running
about " miles an hour rs he saw the
first switch closed, he gave his attention
to the second one. Between the two il a
switch running west on the right side OF
the track. He did not notice that this was
open nor did the fireman mention that
the target was turned. Before he knew
ttitEt Val iiIkt liz StikittS az IUl WI
from the end of the rails and was jump
ing about on the ties. Fireman Cool
jumped for the door OF the cab. A second
later the engine swung over to N side
and the engineer jumped. He had had
his hand Oh tile throttleb but wal so ratified
he did not know whether he shut of the
steam Or not. The fireman apparently
reached the steps when the engine
struck a cattle car standing on the
next switch and loaded with railroad
rails. He was pinned between this car
and the tender and crushed. His left
forearm frS% a nis Was Sadx torn forcc open M and md t S;, SSSa
turning his face black. The engine being
thus stopped kept up the motion of the
drivers until they dug hole I'm the ground.
Ii now stands there leaning TO one side,
more or less smashed n splintered. The
body OF the fireman was removed to the
morgue. Coroner Myers impaneled q
jury and proceeded to hold an inquest.
The only witnesses examined this MORN
ing were 5. NJ. Long, the conductor, and
III. NJ. Martin, the engineer. The con-
ductor testified that IL Is customary 10
leave switches standing open. Mr.. Mar
tin wore that he had been an engineer
for five years and had never known such
to be b custom; that IL was the duty of
the train men to close switches after
them. At about II 30 o'clock the jury ad-
journed to meet at 2 o'clock this after
noon at the city hall, when the yard
master will be examined. Mr.. Cool was
a man apparently about 25 years of age,
of light complexion and rather large stat
IRE. He was unmarried, but has rela-
lives living i'm Vcrdalia, Mo. At the last
meeting OF the Brotherhood Of Locomo-
tive Firemen here he became a member,
thus practically insuring his life for
Sl,J0. He also carried n policy for
5000 with the Standard Accident COM
pany Of Detroit. The remains have been
turned over to the Brotherhood by the
corone The general opinion is that
somebody has been criminally careless,
and the jury are bent upon finding where
the blame lies.
Daniel L. Bandman, the actor who owns
a ranch about o "a miles asst of here, was
the victim of thieves Saturday night.
They got away with three horses, besides
some saddles, blankets and guns.
j. A. Houston this morning sworc out a
complaint stating that one Belle Hall is in
sane. An inquiry will be held this after
Don The defendant is said to be an
actress at present engaged at the Gem
theater.
Judge Evans this morning tried four
drunk arrested since Saturday and taxed
them Sll. 25 each. A a who was caught
sleeping in a barn, was given time TO
leave the city.
Joe Davis fruit and cigar stand was
broker into about = o'clock this morning,
and about a dollars worth of cigars were
takcn.