Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-30
KILLED BY A BICYCLE.
zephaniah Jones, Prominent Con-
tractor, Meets With Fatal Accident.
OLD AND HIGHLY RESPECTED CITIZEN
Arrest Of the Rider Who Ran
Him Down.
HELD AT POLICE STATION

AS the result of bicycle accident this
morning at the corner of North Capitol
and H streets Zephaniah Jones, one of the
Oldest, best known and most highly re-
spected citizens of this city, lost his life.
The announcement will unquestionably be
in the nature of a severe shock to thou
sands who have been personally acquainted
with Mr.. Jones for a lifetime, and who
have become endeared to him to an tn
usual degree because of his many lovable
traits and strict integrity in all his deal
ings
The rider of the bicycle that struck Mr..
Jones and inflicted the injuries which end
ed his life is Reuben F. Gray a middle
aged white man. who is employed as a
clerk in the specification room at the Union
building branch Of the government print
ing office, on G street between 9th and Tth
streets. Mr. Gray was placed under arrest
by Policeman Stephenson as soon as it was
learned that Mr.. Jones had breathed his
last. He was escorted to the sixth precinct
police station, where he will be held until
the investigation of what is believed be-
yond question to have been an accident is
completed and conclusion reached by
Coroner Carr.
An Active Life.
Mr. Jones was eighty-three years old, but
was remarkably active for that advanced
age. He has been in the habit of daily per
forming duties which would be considered
exacting and arduous by the usual run of
men many years his junior. He arose at
the usual hour this morning, and, after
partaking of breakfast, left his residence.
11O4 9th street. about 7:3o o'clock, for the
government printing Office, where he Is
constructing. under contract, an engine
house. While crossing H street at North
Capitol street, after inspecting the work on
the engine house, now partially completed,
Mr. Jones was struck by the bicycle ridden
by Mr.. Gray, and knocked violently to the
roadway, the back of his head striking the
concrete. He was raised in an unconscious
condition by Mr.. Gray, who. with the as
the time. carried the injured man into the
drug store of a. ]. Schafhirt, at North
Capitol and H streets.
P. B. Jones, son of the contractor, ar
rived from the government printing Office
about five minutes after the accident oc-
CURED. He had a cab summoned and ac-
companied his father home in it.
Medical Aid Summoned.
On their arrival at the house, 11O4 9th
street northwest, Drs. W. W. Johnson,
Street ana Evans were summoned. Their
efforts were futile, however, and Mr.. Jones
died, without regaining consciousness
about two hours after the accident.
Mr. Jones was born in Maryland. August
D, $50, and was, therefore, in his eighty
third year. He came to Washington soon
after attaining his majority and was for
over nifty years engaged in business here.
Mr.. Grny's Statement.
This is the most deplorable occurrence
of my life" stAted Mr.. Gray to a Star re-
porter this afternoon at the sixth precinct
police station. 1T has completely upset
and unnerved me. I was riding eastward
along H street on my bicycle, on my way
to the office. as is my daily custom I was
not riding fast, and was on the right side
of the street. At North Capitol street
glanced at the clock in the tower CT St
AloySiuS Church, and noticed that the time
as indicated by the hands, was five minutes
before o'clock. At that moment 1 ran
against some one. 1t was an old gentle
man.
Il raised him and assisted in carving
him into drug store. l waited until he re-
gained consciousness and then proceeded to
the office first leaving my name and ad-
dress. About 9:3O o'clock an officer came
for me, saying that Mr.. Jones was dead.
I can hardly realize the situation"
Mr.. P. B. Jones, the son, who was his
fathers partner, told The Star reporter
this afternoon that his father appeared to
be in excellent spirits this morning and
seemed to be unusually active. He had
several contracts on hand, and it was his
desire to rush them through as quickly as
possible. They had short talk about the
work at the government printing office
where they had gone, and Mr.. Jones told
his son that he would leave the latter in
charge while he went to inspect the work
at 14th and F streets. He started out The
alley on the North Capitol street side and
hurried to catch the car.
The son went back to supervise the work.
and was almost Frustrated when notified
only two or three minutes afterward that
his father hafs been dangerously injured
unfortunate fruo
tiers and two sons. the latter being p B.
and p. M. Jones. His wife died a number
of years ago.
Coroner Notified.
Coroner Carr was notified of the affair
and this afternoon is looking into the cir
cumstances. He visited the Jones residence
and later had a talk with Gray and the
policemen at the sixth precinct station.
At o'clock he had not reached a con-
clusion. but will probably decide to hold
an inquest tomorrow.
Mr.. Jones was prominently identified with
Methodist religious work, being a promi-
nent member of McKendree chapel In
speaking of his character, life long friend
said this afternoon to Star reporter: "Mr
Jones was integrity personified.'
Held In High Esteem.
Mr.. Jones enjoyed the esteem and con-
ffdence of all the old residents of Washing
ton, and was respected to very noticea-
BILE extent by the younger generation. He
had been identified for sixty years with
the Improvement of Washington city, and
many of the substantial buildings erected
during that period were constructed under
his direction. The brown-stone building
erected by the National Republican at
18th street and Pennsylvania avenue, now
occupied by the Southern Railway Com
pt ny, was the first building of massive
construction erected here by private en-
terrrise and Mr. Jones was its builder
He was engaged at the time of his death
in experimenting the construction of the
Willard building now approaching COM
pletfon at the northwest corner of 18th and
u streets, having been selected by Mr..
Willard for the highly responsible posi-
ton In preference to many younger men
who had presented smaller bids for the
work, and despite his eighty-two years he
was alert and vigilant, and ever awake to
the interests of Mr.. Willard
Mr.. Jones had done all the work of all
the Willards during his lifetime, and the
numerous buildings belonging to the sew
eral Willard estates will long be monu-
merits to his industry and careful guardian
ship OF the duties intrusted to him.
THERAPEUTISTS IN SESSION.