The times., 1898-11-21
KILLED ON CONDUIT ROAD
William A. Helmus Meets Vic.
lent Death in a Runaway.
L. Y. DOUGLAS BADLY HURT
Victims Lay I'm the Darkness Several
conscious - Seen by n Motorman.
But Passed Without Alarm = The
Accident Occurred mt Glen Echo.

William A. Helmus, 81 years Of age.
who resided with his parents at No. 1855
Harvard Street, Mount Pleasant was
thrown from buggy in the Conduit
road at Glen Echo, Nd. about 6:l5 o'clock
yesterday evening. and instantly killed.
L. v. Douglas. his companion and en-
ployer was also thrown out and slightly
injured.
The body of Helmus was discovered
about $50 O'Clock by a party of young
men who were walking along the road
toward Cabin John Bridge. II was ly-
ing alongside a small road, which runs
off the main thoroughfare, almost direct
ly In front OF the entrance to the old
Chetsuqua grounds.
Young Helmus was the son of William
Helmus. retired liquor dealer. who for
merly conducted a business in Seventh
Street He was unmarried, and employed
by Douglas, who is proprietor of a mems
furnishing store at the corner of Thir-
teenth and f Street northwest. Both the
men were well known in athletic circles in
the city.
In company with Mr.. Douglas, Helmus
left his home about 10 o'clock yesterday
morning with buggy and pair Of horses,
for a trip 10 Great Falls. They reached
the Falls without accident and remained
there until 5 o'clock yesterday evening,
when they started on the return trip TO
Washington.
On the way in they stopped at Cabin
John Bridge, arriving there about 6
O'Clock. Both men were well known at
the bridge and met several friends at the
hotel there Among them were Fred
Schuler, of the Hotel johnson. Their
stay there was brief and they soon re-
sumed their trip home. Friends who saw
them leave the bridge stated that the
young men Were in the best of spirits
and apparently able to handle the spirited
horses.
Mr. Douglas was driving. All went well
until they were within a short distance of
Glen Echo, when the horses became Tn
manageable and dashed al a breakneck
speed down the road. Douglas Vainly at
tempted TO check them. When almost op-
posite the main entrance to the Glen
Echo grounds he lost all control of them
Where the small road runs of from the
main thoroughfare is a steep embank-
ment and in his efforts to restrain the
animals Douglas turned them toward it.
Over it they dashed, overturuing the We
hicle, and throwing both the occupants
out.
Douglas was thrown about twenty feet,
onto some soft dirt and clear of the
wreck. Helmus. who had been seated on
the left side, fell under the buggy as il
was overturned and became entangled in
the wheels. He was dragged about a hun
dred yaros, and thrown against a mile
post at the side of the road. There the
horses became entangled with the ve-
hicle and harness and in their efforts to
rid themselves of the wreckage, they
kicked and stamped the unfortunate
young man to death.
Once free the horses dashed on down
the road, and were finally captured about
two miles this side of Glen Echo drag
gins nothing but the pole. The rest of the
vehicle was strewn in fragments along the
road.
Motorman NJ. R. Austin, of the Great
Falls Electric Railway. passed the scene
of the runaway on his way TO Cabin John
Bridge at 7:55 O'Clock. He noticed the
PROSTATE body of Helmus in the road. in
the moonlight, but paid little attention to
it. supposing ii TO be some drunken man
taking rest.
He arrived at the bridge at O'Clock
and returning again passed the spot AT
s:lo As he passed the place he was in
conversation with Mr.. Fowler, superln-
tendent of the road, and did not look to
See If the body was still there He pro-
ceeded on his way TO the Georgetown ter
minus of the road. and on his return
passed the scene a third time at O'Clock.
when he saw a crowd. That was the
first tntimation he had of an accident
The body of Helmus was found at $50
lying near the mile post and about 15O
YARDS away Douglass was found uncon-
scious. He was taken in charge by Mr.
Schuler and was brought into George
town on car OF the Great Falls Electric
road The patrol wagon from the Seventh
precinct police station had been notified
by telephone and the patrol wagon was
in waiting. Douglas was put on stretch
er and placed in the wagon, which start
ed for the Georgetown University Hos
pital.
The wagon had scarcely started when
ne jumped to the street. highly excited
He did not seem TO know what had oc-
CURED. and was with great difficulty per-
suaded to get on an avenue car and GO
TO his home, 1885 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Ihe body of Helmus was taken into the
bicycle storage room at Glen Echo and
viewed by Squire onutt. the coroner,
who gave permission to have il removed
George Delahay, who is employed at Cab
In John Bridge; W. II. Norris and Ern-
est Passaild. remained with the body un-
I'll after these formalities were over
In the meantime, Mr.. Schuler. after
leaving Douglas at his home hurried to
the home OF Mr. Helmus sr in Mount
Pleasant and quietly informed John Hell
mus, brother, of the accident. Together
they went to Undertaken Lees and gave
instructions to have the body met at the
Georgetown terminus of the electric road
and conveyed to the undertaker's estab-
lishnent.
They then proceeded to Glen Echo. TAX
Ing charge of the remains and bringing
them to the city The body arrived al
12:55 o'clock last night and was removed
at once to Lees undertaking establish
ment.
THE KEYSTONE SENATop