The Saint Paul globe., 1898-07-13

George -. Spry met horrible and instant
death beneath the wheels of First avenue
short line car at 2:40 o'clock yesterday alter
noon. The fatality occurred en- Nicollet ave-
nue., between Franklin avenue and Nine
teenth street
at Sl9 New York Life building. had been
home to lunch and was on his way back
10 his Office He had walked down TO Nicoliet
avenue from his home at 31S Franklin ave-
nue. west. It was a hot afternoon, and Mr..
Spry, who was 81 years old. sought the shade
OF some trees on the north side of the ave-
avenue shcTt line car approached Franklin
avenue from the west as another approached
in an opposite direction. The short line car
crossed Frauklin avenue first. Mr.. Spry p,c
toned TO il 10 come to standstill, and then
he stepped tetind the car going west direct
iy in frolt of the short line. The motoneer
had not sesn Mr. Spry. and as the car had
lust come 70 the bottom OF a steep descent
the car wa going at fairly good rate.
track, he wss struck by the fender. 1t is
generally the rule that the fender throws
the obstruction into it. but, contnlry to pre-
cedents, MIR. Spry fell away from the car and
the fender passed over him. The body was
caught at the front of the car. and for fifty
feet 1t was dragged. Then the body tore
loose and the wheels passed over the pros
/, trate victims abdomen. infcting horrible
wound. 1t was nearly 100 feet from where
the victim was struck to where the car was
stoDped.
When the mangled form was picked up life
was extinct. Nearly every bone in the VIC
TINS body was broken, while it was bruised
and mangled in a horrible manner. The
body was nearly cut in two where the wheels
had passed over. Coroner Dennis was called
and had the remains taken to the morgue
He will conduct an inquest at 2 o'clock to-
day.
L. wittgraf. residing at 1915 Nicollet ave-
nue., witnessed the accident, which happened
almost in front of his residence. He tells
the story substantially given above. He
thinks that Mr.. Spry intended ia take the
downtown car and supposed that the motor
man was Gb0ut TO stop his car. The fender
struck him below the knees and threw him
forward on his face. The mOtOneer did not
Edward Peterson, of 3113 Nicollet avenue,
was the conductor in charge Of the car. His
story is in detail similar to that given above.
He is of the same opinion, viz: That Mr.:
Spry wanted to take the car and supposed
that it had slowed down for him.
George II. Spry born in Norwich, n.
Y, Aug. II, and was 81 years OF age at his
death. At the breaking out OF the Civil war
in New York regiment. where he served
four years. After the war he went to Kan
sas and settled in Leavenworth, where he
engaged in the practice of law. finally be-
coming assistant district attorney of Kansas.
He was @ close PERSONAL friend of Justice
Brewer of the United States court, and the
judge always stopped with Mr.. Spry when in
Minneapolis. Mr.. SDry came to Minneapolis
% years ago and has practiced law here ever
since. He with Judge Harvey for tive
years as q partner. He has always been
acknowledged in Minneapolis as one of the
vv3 best men to handle real estate law. as
II was his speciality, and few could equal him
in that branch. 1t was one popularity about
him. that he would never take criminal
case confiniag himself exclusively to civil
practice. He was a member of Park Avenue
Congregational church, and one of the char
ter members of Rawlins post G. A. K. He
leaves a widow, two daughters and four sons.