The Wilmington daily Republican., 1891-06-26
FIFTH EDITION.
A Fireman,s snd Death.

John Coleman, aged about 80 years,
| member OF the Liberty Fire Com
pany, South Wilmington, lived with
his wife and child and his aged moth
| ut No. 800 Williams street, AMI was en-
ployed as hammerer at the johnson
Forge Company's Works. The fire
| company is new one and the men,
bers all take great Interest In its sue.
| cess. Coleman, with number Of
other moubers Of the company were
at the company's quarters last night
looking around for something to do
, to increase the efficiency OF tho COM
pany. The three horses belonging to
the company for want of active service
had grown somewhat spirited and it
was agreed between Coleman, James
May and James Dougherty to take
them out and give them some exer-
else.
Accordingly the horses were brid-
led, but without saddles each man
jumped astride horse and set out on
a lively canter over into the city as
far as Fifth and Market streets. Reach-
Ing that point they turned around,
cantered down Market street at live
ly pace coming across Market street
bridge. Gaining the oyster shell
causeway they Increased the sped of
the horses and as they turned into
Gutherie's lane they were on sharp
run, Coleman in the middle. A num-
ber of tho colored people hearing the
approach of the horses on the hard.
shell road, collected in front of u cir
houses to see the riders and their hpr-
ses pass. This was about O'Clock.
They had but cleverly reached Guth-
cries row when Coleman's horse STUN
BILE forward on his knees, throwing his
rider over his head to tho hard shell
road, while the hurse kept on with the
others, but without his rider, for
considerable distance before thay were
checked. May and Dougherty stop
ped us soon as possible and went back
to look after their companion Cole
man, whom they found lying In the
road motionless and already dead.
Blood Nns flowing from his mouth
and nose until the hard, crusted sand
was saturated with it.
James johnson and Thomas Demby
two colored men, asst 3ted May and
Doughorty to carry the body OF the un-
fortunate man TO IA house near by, oc-
cupied by colored people, and Sarah
Farra colored woman procured basin
of water and washed tho blood and
sand from the dead mans face.
DR.. Ogle was telophoned for aud the
patrol wagon In charge OF Sergeant
Evans ana uillrer3 Heal ana Snearer,
soon responded and the body OF the
unfortunate man was taken to his
home. Dr. Ogle and Dr. Patterson OK.
anlincd tho body and found arupture ut
tho hase of the brain, which accounted
for the great How of blood.
An abrasi ion was found on the back
OF the head, an eye WAS di5colored, and
there was lump on the right side OF
the neck, supposed tn he caused by the
dislocatiun Of tho vertcbrae .....
When the body of Coleman was taken
to his home the scene that took place
was distressing in the extreme. Both
the wife ana the mother were thrown
into Mysteries, and refused to 10 COM
fortcd.
Coroner Sparks being notified want
to the house and examined th5 body.
The coroncr5 physician, Dr. Smith, and
the Coroner both viewed the remains
this morning, and III accordnnee with
the decision of tho physician that
death was caused purely by an acct
dent, Coroner Sparks issued a ccitih-
cate Of death without jury.