The morning call., 1890-04-21
HIS FATAL RIDE.
Awful Death of a Young Man on
the Cliff-HOuse Road.
Samuel Guy Hook Is Killed Uader Moving
Traln-Anguish OF the Afflicted Father
at The Morgue.

Samuel Guy Hook, son OF Police Sergeant
Hairy Hook, was killed yesterday at Eighteenth
avenue and California street by a train OF the
Ferries and Cilff House road. The fatal accident
was the result OF his caTelessuess on the steam.
ears.
A telephone message was sent to the Morgue
aud Deputy Coroners Meloney and Smith drove
out over the road and carried back The remains
Shortly aiterwaTd lhe body was ideHtifed by the
sergeant as that Of his son. when Craig the under
iaker, took charge of it. The Identification wa:
one OF the saddest aud most depressing of scene:
ever witnessed at the MoTgue, and the news
caused general heartfelt sorrow among the
police officers and officials around the old Cliy
Hall
VISIT TO THE CLIFF HOUSE.
Early IN the day young Hook left home. saying
he Intended going out TO the Cliff House fol
pleasure. He told his brother, who is employed
at the PowelI-stfeel enElne-house. that he would
be home at 4 O'clock III the afternoon, and then
rode off on cable-car never TO return.
lie Went out alone. On his way he stood upon
the foot platform Of an open car OF the steam
line. Feeling In good spirits and self confident,
perhaps, he saw no danger In standing on one
foot, and, holding on firmly TO a stanehiOn. tap
ping the soft sand with the other. and this while
the train was steamlng at high rate of speed.
A few minutes before his death he even made
Understanding of the platform stiu holding
Ihe iron stanchion with both hands, aud then
drawing himself back TO his former position.
ms Neo MS A~'oA ihNASNhSNiSA. AAC 4SdpcN OuCc
too often.
UNDER THE WHEELS.
Coming back he missed his foOthold and his
feel dragged near tile lies, While he held firm
grasp. But his hanGs slipped downward a trifIe
He was caught by the flying wheels. With cry
OF PAIN, intense, agonizlng. pitlful, he released
his hold and dropped from the sight OF the HOrrl-
ned passengers. There was Jar painfully ap-
parent cry, and the train went on Its way dis
tance and then stopped.
Meanwhile, the young man. who moment be-
lore nad been lnnocently amusing himself with
that reck lessness undccountably associa ted
with the exuberant spirits of health was hurled
10 a terrible fate beneath The wheels. His life
less body, all bleeding and torn, was lifted from
the ground by kindly hands and taken TO the de-
pot on Central avenue.
The remains were searched at the Morgue for
some paper that would lead 10 tile deceased $
Identity, as nobody on The cars knew him. a
description OF the body was taken by the news
paper meU.
THE MANGLED BODY.
Deceased was handsome young man OF ap-
wholly innocent of beaid, fair skin and COM
plexion and well dressed. His clothes were rent
In many places, and deep wound could be seen
in the back of his head. Yet deaih had come TO
him with more mercy than might be Imagined,
for the young face looked calmly up from the
coffin, aud the placid features bore no trace OF
agony. This alone WAS Que small consolation
Tor his afflicted parents and relatives. Evidently
the first blow stunned him into nsensi5iliiy.
Shortly after O'Clock in the evening Steuart
II. Hook, deceased's brother, arrived at the
Morgue, pale and vlsibly agitated, asking IL a
young man. who had been killed by the steam
cars. was there.
A BRoTHEa's SEARCH.
He said he had been told at the engine-house
on Mason street of the accident, and as his
young brother had not returned at O'clock ac-
cording TO promise, and the description OF the
deceased c0rresronded with that OF his brother,
he feared that 1t was Samuel WHO lay inside.
AT the same hour Sergeant Hook arrived from
his home at 912 Broadway TO take his "waten''
out at O'clock. He saw his son Steuart pass by
Tie police of1ce and hailed him.
what aie you doing here? z" lie asked.
Nothing, father" was the evasye answe r,
and the speaker hurried through the assembly.
loom toward the Coroner's department.
AT THE MoRGUE.
The Sergeant followed him quickly out through
the doorway and across the alley. lntu,tiyely a
dread that something terrible had happened
seized him, and the strange manner OF his son
confirmed the belief. When at tile Morgue door
he again asked SteuaTt some question, which
was more OF Il desperate demand, for the anxious
father was then almost frantic with doubt.
Deputy Coroner Meloney met them at the door.
They would have passed him by had he not
denied them entry until lie knew what was
wrong.
1t was then that Steuart asked about Ills
brother.
!" Yes. there is a young man inside who answers
that description" replied the deputy.
Inc Sergeant pushed Forward, trembling In his
excitement.
Now, wait moment. you can't go in there
yet" said Deputy Meloney, who did not want
shock would be too severe.
"MY GOD, IT is MY BoY!'
:" Well, has he u hat like this? asked Steuart,
displaying the embroidered linlug OF his hat.
'' Yes,' said Meloney, "only the blue is shade
darker"
My God, it is my boyl"
The Sergeant stood motIonless as he uttered
The words bitterly. aud then turned daZed,
helpless, appealing look upon those about him,
while his face gave sincere expression OF ter
ribe grief.
The deputy brought forth the hat Inside was
band bearing the initials IS. Il. Ii"
Sergeant Hook glanced at it hurrIedly, and
then fell into the arms of officers aud reporter
"Oh, my boyi my boyi" was Tie ouly exeIama-
tion lie made before giving way to a parOxysm of
poignant grief. 1t all had come upon him so
suddenly. To find the promising sou, whom he
adored and always spoke of with pride, dead
there before him was such an awful reality OF
fate that lie suffered more in one minute than
most men could bear.
FATHERS ANGUISH.
He staggered forward toward the coffin, sup
ported by friends, who also detained tile elder
son, and when he saw the white face In the rude
receptacle his anguish and despair were bound
less. Sergeant " hitman followed and spoke to
him some words OF consolation, but the sentence
was not fnished when the strieSen father threw
himself upon his comrades breast and allowed
himself to be LED away like a child.
"0h God! my boy; my boyi" was all he could
cry In his af1iictIOn.
The ordeal aud his despaIrIpg grief were In.
deed painful to behold and moved many of his
fell0w-oflcers to tears. After the first paroxysms
had subsidized and lie began TO realize what had
come upon him he found relief iii copious tears
He wept like child, wringing his hands, and
refused TO be cemlorted. .
SORROW AMONG THE OFFICERS
The officers were arriving ut the time to 20 on
duty, aud they heard the sad news with evident
sorrow. All their sympathy was offered the ser.
geant. They gathered around him with expires
sions OF consolation, but he only shook theiI
extended hands in silence. II was the gloomiest
most mourDfu aud sorrowful change of watch
ever seen at police headquarters.
The Dig. sturdy, hearty fellows, always so full
OF DOlSterou5 good humor and fun when tOne The
before the call of Is Fall ln'' Is given went about
silently with sad facess but an undertone OF pity
could be heard.
They heard their orders from another sergeant
ana tfamped out without sound save the meas.
ufed tread of their own footsteps The afilctiou
seemed upon each one OF them.
Sergeant Hook was taken 10 his home by his
comrades, and the remains of his sou were sub
sequentiy removed to the undertakers.
Deceased was 16 years OF age, although he ap-
peared much older. He was boia In San Fran.
Cisco.