The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-04
KILLED ON HIS WAY TO BATTLE
NARcIso j. II. DE LUNA CRUSHED
UNDER = TRAIN.

WAS en- Route 10 Tampa With other
CubanS TO Join the United States
Army-Iu Attempting 10 Get on or
OF the Train, He Fell and Was In
stantIy KiIIedAAn Eye Witness
Said the Act Was With Suicidal
Intent. rs the Man Pulled Himself
Under the Moving Wheels.A
Just as the Florida Central aud Pen
insular train No 50 pulled out yesterday
morning, Narciso J. B. de Luna, Gu
ban en- route from New York to Tampa,
where he intended to volunteer in
the United States invading, army,
fell between the wheels of a coach and
was Instantly killed, his head being cut
entirely off. The stories of those who
witnessed the affair conflict as to the
manner in which it occurred.
One theory is that De Luna Intentionally
threw himself beneath the cars, accord
ing TO the statement of a railroad en-
ploye standing near at the time of the
tragedy. Another is that he accident
ally lost his footing while attempting to
board the train after having been in the
lunch room. There seems to have been
no reason known to the others aboard
why De Luna should suicide. as he was
apparently in the best mood and looked
forward to his destination with great
eagerness.
There were about fifty Cubans aboard
The train hound for Tampa on the same
mission, among whom was Antonio Ha
con. a nephew Of the dead man. AS soon
as the train pulled in about $50 o'clock.
De Luna and his nephew alighted to get
lunch. The young man is understood TO
have left the station to get some fruit,
while De Luna remained at the lunch
counter until he thought it about time to
return to the cars. He went to the train
and is said to have remained there until
time for departure. when he became solicit
tous for the nephew and went outside
again. Whether he fell in an effort to get
off or on the train seems to be differently
understood. but he was crushed beneath
the wheels. one foot being crushed and his
head entirely torn off. The nephew came no
gust as the train pulled from the depot and
was confronted with the shocking specta-
Gle.
A statement was made by Waterman r.
Hughes of the Central Railroad, as fol-
lows: About $50 o'clock this morning. l
saw a man whom / have since learned is a
Cuban, deliberately throw himself between
two cars on the Florida, Central and Pen
insular train No. IS, as It was pulling from
the depot. ! saw him catch the steps and
pull himself beneath the train and across
tbe track, after which the trucks of two
cars passed over him. The man was killed
before the train could be stopped. 1t had
just started and was not moving to exceed
five miles per hour. The act was done so
quickly that it would have been impossible
for any one to have stopped him. When he
walked to the steps of the car noticed he
had a ticket, which he laid on the steps
and then crawled under the moving train.
When l first noticed him he was In the
company of others walking In the direction
of the train. He said something as he went
under the train, but could not understand
it,"
The train pulled ahead after the acct
dent, OF course, which will keep the COM
rades Of the dead man in wonderment as
10 has whereabouts. The nephew is the only
one of the party left He was deeply dis
tressed over the calamity which overlook
his uncle, to whom he was warmly at
tached.
Coroner Goette was notified and went
10 the depot for the remains. Trainmaster
Raley of the Florida Central and PENN
sular Railroad rendered assistance in hav-
ing the body properly cared for, and
wired the president of the Cuban junta in
New York inquiring what disposition to
make of 1t. Word was later received di-
recting that it be sent to New York, the
home of the dead man. The body viii be
sent to-day at / o'clock. Some time during
the forenoon the coroner, who was called
from the city Yesterday, will hold an an
quest the result of which may throw
more light on the matter.
Senior de Luna is said to be a prosper
Gus cigar manufacturer of New York He
is large in stature. has dark complexion
characteristic of the Cuban, and wore a
heavy black mustache. He Is 30 years of
age, a member of the Royal sArcanum,
and Is a native of the island. for the free
dom of which he was going to fight