Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-21
DEATH ACCIDENTAL.
The killing of George Garrison in
the Navy Yard Tunnel.

George Garrison's horribly mutilated body
was prepared for burial at ]. William Lees
undertaking establishment yesterday after
noon, and there the coroner's jury assem-
bled this morning and listened to the state
ments OF witnesses concerning the cir
cumstances under which the deceased came
to his death. Garrison. who was forty-:ive
years old was a track walker on the Bal
tmore and Potomac railroad. He was on
duty yesterday afternoon. and it became
necessary for him to pass through the
navy yard tunnel. When he entered the
tunnel he lighted his torch. as a light Is
necessary In order to see that the track
is all right and In safe condition. Bnt
Garrison did not pass right through the
tunnel nor did ne seek refuge 10 one Of
the several "manholes." and the result
was that the extra train struck and In
stantly killed him.
Harry A. Newman, engineer In charge Of
switch engine No. 4, saw The man when
he was struck. When he entered the tun-
Eel, ne said. he saw a torch on the track,
Dut there was nothing unusual In that, for
he had seen them there many times be-
fore. The presence of the torch on the
track indicated nothing. except that there
was trackman in the tunnel, and he
naturally supposed that the man was In
one of the 'manholes.''
But later he saw a man seated On the
rail-, and the engine was then about fifteen
or twenty feet from him. SO far as he
could discover, the man made no effort to
save himself but simply raised his head
and then dropped IL again. The bell on
the engine was ringing and members Of the
crew were shouting at MIN. The engine
was backing at the time. pulling the cars
into the city.
The conductor and yardmast.r," said
witness, were on the step and could hive
kicked the man before he Was strIck, but
II would have been dangerous for them"
or inn MY 1l
a Juror.
For the trackman to See lis way
through the tunnel" was the response Of
witness.
WAS 1t used as n signal Of any kind"'
he was next ask ID.
No, sir" he answered, 1T was only
used by the trackman to light his ra:h
through the tunnai.'
DO you suppose he Was asleep when the
train struck him.
Il don't know, answered. the engineer
but 1t looked like it
Witness said he was running his engine
and was unable to stop the train after he
saw the man on the track -.s -,---
one OF the Jurors wanted to know from
the witness something concerning the
q light In the tunnel would make 1t safer
Tor those whose duties called them there
but the coroner thought that Information
had better be obtained from another wit
ness
Name Rossiter, fireman on the engine
gave similar testimony. He rang the bell
and heard members of the crew shouting
ioud enough to arouse even sleeping
man.
Z. l.. Tiers, assistant supervisor in charge
OF tracks and roadbed. told the Jury that
Garrison worked from o'clock in the
morning until In the evening, with one
hour for dinner He knew nothing Of the
mans habits. There is no light in the tun-
mel, except when \ torch Is taken In there
by workman. and witness could not say
that light In the tunnel In the daytime
would make II any safer. There are man
holes In the tunnel. and the railroad men
are supposed to know where they are To-
Gated. Witness thought there vas one of
these holes near where Garrison was killed.
There Is no room between The track and
the wall of the tunnel. but there are two
tracks. and a person might stand between
them and escape injury when train Is
passing.
Peter r. Oliver, assistant yardmaster.
testlned that he was seated on :he link
and pin box of the tender when the acct
dent happened. When the train approach
ed the tunnel he noticed the torch, but
did not see the man until the train was
almost upon him.
When the train was about ten feet from
harrison witness saw him raise his head
In an instant the train struck him
Inc Jury returned verdict Of accidental
death.