Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-11
A LITTLE BOY KILLED
SAD ACCIDENT TO THOMAS BRAN
NAN ON A G. e. O. TREsrLE.
The OTHERS JUMPED TO The WATER
How a Happy Little Fishing Party
Was Broken Up ana n Widowed
the Accident Near the Pump-House.

Another unfortunate and deplorable
railroad accident, for which no one Is to
blame-certainly not the railroad COM
pany-happened yesterday, and little
Thomas Brannan, boy years OF age,
and son OF Mrs. Rose 3. Brannan, Of
No. 1905 west Cary street, lies corpse
in a desolate home.
Yesterday morning Police-Oflcer John
i. Howell, accompanied by his brother
"Beaurie" Howell, his two boys-Irby
and John-and little Thomas Brannan,
left their homes on west Cary street to
spend the hot August day amid cool
places upon the banks of the James.
There by innocent deceits, they meant
TO trick the unsuspecting and sportive
perch from his waters. But how differ
ent 1t all turned out.
WERE on THE TRESTLE.
1t was the intention Of the little party
TO 90 a short distance UP the river and
spend the day in fishing and roaming
about upon the river banks. When they
had reached point near the New pump
house, they found It necessary to cross
peake and Ohio Company, and had gained
the middle Of the bridge before the sense
Of danger dawned upon them. Just be-
yond the trestle Is a sharp curve, and
an approaching train cannot be seen until
very close at hand, nor yet heard because
Of the rush Of the river hard by.
TRAIN BORE DOWN ON THEM.
The shrek of the passenger and ex-
press train, due in Richmond on that
line at $40 o'clock was succeed
ed only by the sight of a mighty
engine bearing down upon the little party
angling bent. officer Howell seemed to
realize the peril Of the situation in
moment, and selling his youngest child
jumped into the water below. His
brother pushed the second boy from the
trestle into the canal. and though he
made a desperate effort TO reach the
Brannan boy, was unable to do so, az he
was several feet in advance Of them.
Thomas with wonderful presence OF mind
for one so young, also saw his peril and
falling to the floor Of the trestle. crawled
20 the side and nestled close to the side
Of the guard timber. He had hardly done
so when the engine dashed by leaving
him unhurt. Had he remained IN this
position, he would have been safe, but
thinking the danger over, he raised his
head. only to receive n stunning blow
from the lower step Of one Of the
coaches. He was rendered senseless and
fell into the water.
BROUGHT TO THE CITY.
The train passed by and was brought
to n standstin Before crossing the
trestle the engineer did all in his power
to stop the train, but his efforts were
futile. The boys were taken from the
water, and young Brannan, who was
seen to be seriously injured. was placed
upon n stretcher and brought on the train
to the city.
A telephone message brought Dr. Hugh
Taylor and the ambulance surgeon and
van to the depot. and the lad was taken
Immediately to the Virginia Hospital.
Here everything that seemed' possible
was done for the child, but to no avail,
and at 2:4O o'clock in the afternoon his
sufferings ended in death.
Later in the afternoon the remains Of
the child were taken from tho hospital
TO the home of the distressed mother,
where they were prepared for burial.