Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-05
CROSSING
Herman L. Lewis Killed by Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Engine.
BODY MANGLED BEYOND RECOGNITION
Deceased Was a Clerk in House
of Representatives.
DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT

Herman L. Lewis was killed. it is believ-
ed, instantly, about 3:45 o'clock this morn
ing on the grade crossing of the Pennsyl-
vfnia railroad at South Capitol street, near
the intersection of + street southwest, only
few feet from where Jane Bell, ID colored
woman, met death last week His body
was mangled beyond recognition. Both
right arm broken. In addition 10 these in
juries, the flesh was stripped from his face
and his clothes were torn into shreds.
The deceased, vino had been employed as
a clerk in the Capitol, was originally from
Baltimore. He was married, and leaves a
wife and one child. His wife was in Balti-
mere visiting his mother, at No. gel Gill
more street. when the sad news reache,,
her home al No. 1888 H street northeast
this morning. Her uncle went over on t n
early train to bring her home.
although the young man was killed at
about $40 o'clock, it was not until fifteen
minutes after 4 O'Clock that his IN lneled
body was found. Engine No. 40 had run
over him, and his body was found by the
men on engine No. 1913 Joseph Dixon, the
gateman at the South Capitol stree, cross
Ing, lowered the gates when the New York
express. due here at 3:3O am, approached
the crossing. Fifteen minutes later the en-
gine backed out to the yard from the ucpot
and 1t was this engine that struck and kill
ed young Lewis. Conductor Porter, En-
gineer Lott and Fireman O'Connor were or
the engine at the time, but they knew moth
ing of the fatal accident until after the
body was discovered.
Then an examination of the engine re-
vealed blood stains, conclusively showing
that that engine had done the deadly work
Yardmaster Stewart was sent for, and he
summoned the police patrol wagon from
he rrth
run to the scene, only to find that the man
had been dead ever since the train had
struck him. The body was removed to the
morgue, and later Precinct Detective Henry
made an investigation.
The Watchman's Statement.
Watchman Dixon was on duty at the
crossing all night and says quite number
OF pedestrians passed that point after II
O'Clock midnight. There was a dance in
South Washington, he said. and a number
Of persons who had attended the gathering
We're among. those who passed over the
crossing. When the New York express
reached that point the crossing was clear
and 1T was also clear when the engine
backed out later. His idea is that Lewis
was walking along the track when the
engine came along behind him and struck
him. A cigar. probably dropped by the un-
fortunate man, was found on the west side
of the crossing. 1t is evident that he was
near this side of the crossing when the en-
gine struck him. but the body was dragged
to point about ten feet east Of the cross
Ing and there thrown from the track.
The gateman says he had looked both
ways from his watch box upon the an
proach of the train, and there was no one
in sight.
Identified by Letters.
Letters found on the young mans body
fully identified him. One letter, bearing
special delivery stamp, was addressed to
h fIo Z
he was employed in the capacity of clerk
This was received from the republican ex-
ecutive committee at Athens Ohio
About o'clock this morning fountain
pen and 10 cents, evidently the property of
the dead man, were picked up near the
track and turned over to the railroad men.
Lewis left his home about o'clock in the
afternoon, bidding his sister a cheerful
goodbye" He waved his hand as he left
the house, and said he had to go out on
business.
"But," he added, "I'n be back by 10
o'clock unless run over to Baltimore. In
that case, I'll return at r."
His sister said that last night was the
since his wife went to Baltimore. Then
she said he would not have left her alone
had it not been that he had business down
in the city. She expected to see him at 10
o'clock, and when he had not returned at
that hour she thought he had gone to Bal
timore The news of his sad death was a
severe shock to her. and between her sobs
she denounced the dangerous grade cross
ings and wondered why they had not been
abolished.
Matter of Conjecture.
Where Lewis had been before he was
killed and how he managed to get in front
of the engine is matter of conjecture.
While the railroad men have an idea that
he had been to the dance mentioned, his
sister is positive he had not been there.
HE did not know how to Dance" she
said, land II he had been going to social |
gathering he would have told me so. He
had some business to look after, and that |
was why he went away from the house."
She thought it possible that he went to |
Baltimore and returned on a late train.
Some persons who saw the body and learn |
ed of the circumstances of the case be- |
lieved also that the young man had gone
ever to Baltimore, and upon mis- return to
the city jumped from the train thinking
he was on the Baltimore and Ohio road |
and that he would make a short cut home. |
Should it develop that this was the case
he may have fallen to the ground when
he jumped and SO badly injured himself |
that he became bewildered and wandered |
about on the tracks until the engine struck |
/ i'm. This is phase of the case, however,
which tie railroad men do not take any |
stock in If he had been about there any |
time. they say, some of them would have |
seen him. Street sweepers were at work |
in the neighborhood of the crossing at the |
time the accident is believed to have hap
pened, but they did not see the young
man prior to the fatal occurrence.
Cororer Carr viewed the fragments of |
the body at the morgue and decided to
hold an inquest at II o'clock tomorrow
morning
MIR. GARY IN THE SENATE.
The Postmaster General Declines to