Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-21
KILLED In THE CAB.
nRAKEMAN KrRTLEY's NECK
BROKEN BY MYSTERIOUS FALL.
HAD JUST BLOWN The SIGNALS.
While stepping from the Box He
Was Thrown with Violence, and
When Found Was breathing His
Last-A widows Only Son.

Mr.. william II. Kirtley. a freight
brakeman on the James River Division
OF the Chesapeake and Ohio railway, met
his death last evening in a most mystic
rious manner. az Haxalrs Station, about
two miles west OF this city. HIS body
now lies at Laube's undertaking rooms
with the neck broken. awaiting the ac-
tion OF Coroner Croxton. OF Henrico, who
will view II this morning.
No one was with Mr. Kirtley when he
was hurt. and hence no positive state
ment concerning the nature OF the acci-
dent can be obtained. The theory most
generally advanced. though, is that he
fell while engaged in work upon an en-
gine, and thereby dislocated his neck
A WIDOWS ONLY SON.
Deceased lived with his widowed
mother at No. $50 west Cary street, and
left home Friday afternoon to 90 with
his train to Clifton Forge He was on
his return trip. and had gotten TO
HaxalPs Station. almost In sight of homo,
when so suddenly cut down. Haxalrs
is Just beyond the Richmond yard
limits, and there are several long sidings
there. Mr.. Kirtley's train took the
Freight No II, TO permit two sections OF
eastbound Passenger Train No 10 to
pass. During the time before the first
section OF the passenger train arrived
the unfortunate man was seated on the
station platform with Engineer Toomes,
of No n. The two were I'm conversa-
tion when the first section Of No. 10 blew
for the station. Mr.. Toomes requested the
brakeman TO enter the cab of his engine
and blow the response TO the signal This
the young man left to do and that was
the last seen Of him until he was found
breathing his last in the cab OF the engine
by the fireman, who had been on the
ground engaged in oiling the machinery
beneath the locomotive.
HAD BLOWN THE SIGNALS.
Mr.. Kirtley blew the signals as directed,
and was apparently leaving the engineers
box when he met with the accident When
the fireman entered the cab he found his
companion stretched out on the floor of
the cab with his head projecting over
into the tender. His feet were in close
proximity to the chain attached to the
door OF the fTe-box, and the supposltion
Is that In stepping from the engineers
seat. which IS some feet above the floor
OF the cab, his feet became en-
tangled In the chain, and he
trippad and fell, striking his head
against the iron floor of the tender.
As soon as discovered. Mr.. Kirtley
was olcked UP ana taken 70 tne station
platform. where all that suggested itself
TO his friends, who congregated around
him. was done He was already dying.
though. and in less than two minutes he
breathed his last. The second section or
the passenger train was signaled to
STOP and when it pulled up at the station
the body was placed in the baggage-car
and brought to this city.
HIS NECK WAS DIsLocATED.
Al the station the remains were met
nv Drs c. w. p. Brock and Hugh NJ.
TavIor and they, together with Dr. Pet
TIT. OF New Canton. made an eX-
animation Of them. The only outward
sian of injury was q slight abrasion on
the right temple, which could not possibly
have caused serious results, but upon
lieting the head It was ascertained that
the neck had been dislocated.
The remains were taken by order OF
DR.. Brock 10 Lauoe's undertaking rooms
and Coroner Croxton was notified. IN
the mean time one Of deceased's friends
had hastened to the home OF the deceased
on west Cary street, where the aged
mother was engaged in preparing supper
for her boy, and as gently as possible
broke the sad news to her. Naturally
she was completely Frustrated, and
physician had to be called to her.
AS soon as she could compose herself
sufficiently to talk Mrs. Kirtley requested
that the remains be brought home, put
this she was told could not be done until
after the Coroner had viewed them.
SKETCH OF THE DECEASED.
William II. Kirtley was only "a years
OF age. and had been In the employ OF
the Chesapeake snd Ohio for about three
wears. He was a most estimable young
man. and his sunny disposition won ior
him a host of friends, scores OF whom
gathered at his mothers residence as
soon as they heard the news of the accl-
dent to render what aid was IN their
power. Deceased was the only child ana
the chief support OF his widowed mother
He was a native Of Columbia, tluVahha
county. and when he went on the rold
his mother moved here to be with him.
openlng a small clearinghouse on west
Cary street.
No arrangements have yet been made
for the funeral.
III