The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-04-22
CRUSHED TO DEATH.
An Actor Throws Himself
Under Car Wheels.
ss ACCIDENT Or BY Design


Edward Keith. . theatrical performer,
vas crushed 90 death under The wheels OF
4 swssh train on the Columbia q Puget
sound railroad on King street. near South
Third street. ut clock last evening.
Keith vas under the influence OF Eiquor
nj the tine. and was standing in the sec
end aiiey east. which runs from Jackson
place 10 King street, between south
Third and South Fourth streets. The
train which killed him consisted of ten
erarsy coal cars, and was being backed east
along the track by the yard switch engine
Suddenly Keith sprang forward and
jumped for the bumpers between the third
and fourth cars. Whether the action vas
the leap TO death Of determined suicide.
or the fooihardy prank OF drunken man,
will never be known. He did not reach
the bumpers, bat fell between the
cars, and the two left wheels OF
the for ward truck passed over his body.
A doxen people witnessed the mans act.
ard their cries Of horror warned the engi-
neer, who Immediately closed the throttle.
Before the train was stopped the rear truck
oil the fourth car reached the now mani
mate body, and the forward wheels passed
over IL.
A crowd OF fifty collected in q minute
and an attempt Was made 10 extricste the
body. A lever was placed under the end
OF the car, and the latter was raised
sufficiently TO permit Its removal. Life
was then extinct; From the time the man
jumped between the cars he did not utter a
word. and when the wheels passed over
him not even groan came from his lips.
49, az az
and laid out upon the sidewalk. where q
crowd of 80 curious people surrounded Ii
until O'Clock. ut which time Coroner
smart arrived. The latter Immediately or
siered the removal OF the body 10 Bonney
4 Stewards. which was done at go O'Clock.
Fred Piper, one Of the witnesses of the
accident. said he saw the stranger first
caught between the wheels OF the forward
truck Of the coal car The wheels had
passed over the mans stomach, almost sew
ering the body In twain. The man lay
partly on his right side across the rail, his
head being under the ear.
The coal-begrimmed face of the man so
suddenly called 10 meet death had an ex-
preston of agony and terror. His eyes
were wide open and had that stare that Is
40 often seen in cases of violent death. His
hands were elenched fast as could be and
his whole appearance. coupled with the
tragic manner in which he met death. was
enough to make anybody shudder.
Il did not hear him utter even a groan
and think he must have lived only long
enough TO realize he had met his death.
Willing hands pried up the car wheels.
bat they fell back upon the already dead
body. and ii was several minutes later be-
fore the car was again raised sufficiently
high 10 allow the removal of the mangled
body. II was a sight that | would not care
10 sec again"
At the undeitakers' an examination of
the body was made Both arms were
found To be broken, the left in two places,
the face Was badly bruised. and ia the re-
gion OF the stomach and hips there were
several ugly bruises and abrasions of the
skin. There was nothing TO indicate that
the wheels had passed over the body. but
The statements OF dossn eye-witnesses go
10 prove that they did.
The man. strange to say. wore two pair
OF pants. one stripped and the other dark:
two vests. one gray and the other dark, and
dark-coiored sack coat The clothes were
was found sealed letter addressed 10 John
Cort, a last weeks programme of the
Royal theater, Port Townsend. aud the
following significant note:
II anything should happen 20 me wire Frankie
Raymond. care OF the Royal theater, snohomiSh,
Washington. Tony RICE
Up 10 this time the body had not been
identified. aud an endeayor was imme-
diasely made to do so. Taking the letter
addressed to John Cort, Mr.. George
Stewart of the firm of Benny & Stewart.
and Posr-fNrEiLIGEncga reporter. called
upon Mr.. cort. The latter opened the let.
ter when il was handed to him /. read as
follows:
FoEr TOWNSEND. April II, 1890.
John ccrt, Eeq., Seattle. Wash. -Dsar sir:
Myself aud wife viii he unable 10 iil any date
here. The surgeons here tell me viii have to
have my ankle broken over again and reset. and
shall 40 90 san Francisco to have it done
Tais winds Va up for this summers work. NV
wife viii tain here for a few weeks Thsnk-
tng sou for your Kindness in rendering dates
ard trusting that at some future time We will be
able 20 work your circuit, We are. truly yours.
KEITH & RgY.
Mr.. Cort became interested in the natter
and agreed TO - and view the remains.
THIS he did, and readily identified them as
Edward Keith. From him the following
concerning Keith was learned: He arrived
here about two months ago from
California. with has wife, whose
stage name is Miss Rev. He called
on Mr.. Cort and was given a date at Port
Townsend To begin April :. and went there
the same day with his wife. At some time
in The past Keith had broken has right ankle
and Il was giving him some trouble, n his
letter indicates lie was unable to appear
there. bat his wife went on in single song
and dance acs
As far IS is known. Keith remained at
Port Townsend until last Friday. Mr..
Cort saw him there that day. and he told
him that he KISS going to California for
surgical treatment for his aukie What
dsy he came To Seattle j. unknown. He
sas seer in Whifechapel early Yesterday
afternoon hy petec;Ive Rodgers, ana was
then ander the influence OF liquor. lie has
hcsn in rather hard luck Tor some time
past, aud was without cent when Killed
The note upon htn, relative 10 ANYTHING
happening e. him. would indicate suicide
at tlFst thought. Another theory il that
be nsuYea GA undergoing serious opera.
tson in san Francisco. sboat the une ais
vile reaches Snohomish, where she soc.
iFem PERI Townsend. and Was preparing
faT a.
Keith vas probably 81 wears OF sge. His
nst&rltg a. unknown and he had lttle
reputation among theatrical people. Keith
w&s only Lis pro esSiou2l name, his real
one being unknown, tie was SIX isct tail.
rather skt.shF Us Alt 49, As~k R.E As.4>
siseek Bones, eng sharp nose. = receatng
can, ana SAs always smooth Shsven.
dlststca wiI lie sent q Miss Eey al