The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-15
ALEXANDER'S DEATH
The CorOner's Jury Inquiring Into the
Cause of the Accident.
WAS KILLED ON THE B., Az P.
Som WItne sses Heard the Whistle
and Fell and Others Say They
d d Not-One Decidedly
Biased Witness.
WAS KILLED ON THE B., Arp.

An investigation into the death OF
Zachariah Alexander who was killed
by b., A & p. train at the Washing
ton street crossing Sunday afternoon,
was commenced before Coroner Rich
ards at the Butte undertaking rooms
yesterday. The inquest commenced at
10 o'clock and the evidence of the train
crew. Conductor c. G. Penny. Engineer
c. f. Bonham, Fireman ]. c. Lee and
Brakeman ]. p. Forbes was taken at
the forenoon session. They testified
that the train left Butte at 5 o'clock
sharp on Sunday afternoon and that
the accident occurred about SOS at the
Washington street crossing. which Is
about half mile from the depot. The
speed of the train, when 1t struck the
cart in which Alexander and Slomwitz
was riding, they said, did not exceed
eight miles an hour.
Engineer Bonham testified that just
before the train reached Washington
street he heard the fireman yell at
some one on his side of the train. An
instant later the witness saw a white
horse and a two-wheeled cart show up
on the track right in front of the en-
CINE. There was only one man in the
cart and he whipped the horse up and
managed to get across safely, although
the engine struck the cart and threw
the occupant out. The engineer looked
DdCk anu saw Int Dldu ldii uOWh III
trying to run after his horse, and
thinking that he might have been seri-
ously hurt, he stopped the train. 1t
was not until then that he learned that
a man had been killed. The witness
testified positively that he blew the
whistle at Montana street and Wash
ington street as usual and that the bell
had been rung continuously from the
time the train left the depot until after
the accident.
The fireman also swore that he rang
the bell continually from the time the
train left the. depot until after 1t
passed Washington street, and that the
whistle was blown at Montana street
for the crossing at Washington street.
He saw cart containing two men, one
Of whom seemed to be trying to get
out, on the track in front of the engine.
Miss Minnie White, who lives on
Washington street, about 300 feet above
the B., A. & p. crossing, testified that
she saw the 5 o'clock train approach
the crossing on Sunday afternoon. She
saw the two men in the cart drive up
on the track in front of the engine, and
the man who was driving stopped the
horse right on the track and then
whipped him up again and saw the
train run over one of the men who
either jumped or fell out of the cart.
She said that she was so accustomed
to the sound of the whistles and bells
that she could not tell whether the
whistle was blown or the bell rung.
c. NJ. Gates saw the men driving up
Washington street in a cart and talk
ing very earnestly. He witnessed the
accident from a distance of about ITO
yards, but could not tell as to whether
the whistle was blown or whether the
bell was ringing. After hearing this
testimony an adjournment was taken
until o'clock and in the interval the
fury visited the scene of the fatality.
When the inquest was resumed Harry
A. White, a boy who at different times
said that he lived 600 rods, 900 yards,
600 feet, $50 yards and finally about as
far as from the undertaking rooms to
the opera house away from the Wash
ington street crossing of the B., A. & p.
railroad, testified that he saw the two
men in the cart drive up to the center
of the track. Then they looked up
and saw the train and stopped the
horse and then started him again.
He saw Alexander fall out and the
train strike him. He did not hear either
the whistle or the bell, but said they
both might have been used.
James w. Jensen, who was at 9.
NJ. Gates house in Washington street.
about 300 feet above the crossing, saw
the engine and cart first when they
were about six feet apart. He saw one
of the men fall out of the cart back
wards and said that he was struck al
most before he hit theh ground. The
witness did not hear either the bell or
whistle, although he said that they
both might have been going and he not
have heard them. He thought that
some freight cars that were on a side
track close to the street and shaft
| house might have obscured the view
of the train from the men in the cart.
G. w. Storey proved to very sensa-
| tional witness and his evidence was so
strongly against the railroad company
as to arouse comment as to the cause
| of his apparent enmity.
II live at No. sol South Montana
| street." said Mr.. Storey, and about
| 500 or 900 feet from the Washington
street crossing. / was in my back
yard on Sunday afternoon when the 5
O'Clock train passed. / watched IL from
| the time IL passed Montana street until
1t reached Washington street. i could
| not see the Washington street crossing
on account of a brick building that
stood in the way. The train was run
ming 10 or 10 miles an hour. and / am
positive that the whistle was not blown
or the bell rung between Montana and
Washington streets. / saw the train
slow up after IL passed Washington
street and saw people running and I
| ran down to the crossing and saw the
| dead body. don't think the men would
have been struck IL IL had not been for
| a train of freight cars that was stand
| ing on a side track and which cut their
/ view. There were 10 or Is and l think
they were all box cars. / would swear
| that more than five OF them were box
cars. / think they had stood there all
day Sunday and part of the day be-
| fore. i have crossed the railroad at
I Washington street hundreds of times.
/ don't think there is a sign board
| there"
o. L. Chapman, superintendent OF the
B., A. a. p. railway. then took the
| stand and testified as to the reports OF
the accident made to him by the train
crew as already gone over. Il made
an investigation" he said. Ito ascer-
tain II the rules Of the company had
been observed. and found that they
| had The engineer reported that hs