The times., 1899-12-09

Capt. James C. Ayres, L. S. A, for twen-
ty-fve years attached to the Ordnance De-
partment, and since the spring of 1898 be-
ing stationed in Washington, was killed
while riding his bicycle yesterday morn
ing, at the corner of Connecticut Avenue
and L Street, by being run into by q horse
and wagon, driven by William B. Rupert
q grocer doing business at Twenty-frst and
L Streets.
Captain Ayres was dragged by the force
of the collision for a distance of ten feet,
and was so badly injured that he died at
the Emergency Hospital at / o'clock, two
hours after the accident, without regaining
consciousness. Mrs. Ayres was at his bed
side when the end came.
Witnesses of the accident are unanimous
in the statement that the officer was rid
ing south at a moderate rate of speed on
the west side of Connecticut Avenue, while
a car was crossing L Street going north.
AS the captain reached the south side OF
the street delivery wagon dashed around
the rear end of the car and before he could
throw himself from the wheel the horse
struck him and he was dragged with the
wrecked bicycle, to the curb at the corner
in front OF Rau6cheTS care
Carried to n Drug store.
A crowd quickly gathered, and Rupert
assisted in carrying him into the drug
store of Wood & Hume, where aid was
given. A telephone message was sent for
| the patrol wagon and the badly injured
man was taken to the Emergency Hospital
Rupert was arrested and taken to No )
I station house by Patrolman j. 5. Bryan,
where he was held in $1,000 bail to appear
at the coroner's inquest at the station this
morning at II o'clock. Bail was later FUR
nished.
| The body of Captain Ayres was removed
! to his late home last evening. Mrs. Ayres
! is completely Frustrated from the shock
of her husbands s death, and could not be
seen. but relatives at the house said TO a
+ Times reporter that the captain left his
home. zoos O Street northwest at about
9: 80 o'clock, presumably on his way TO his
office. while Mrs Ayres drove downtown
a short time later on a shopping tour, re-
turning about noon. On her arrival she was
/ apprised of the accident and drove with
all haste to the hospital only TO be in time
to see her husband die without recognizing
her.
/ Captain Ayres was to have gone to Chi
cago Yesterday. and his own postponement
Vi the lIlp lS DtNd dljGu DS lA4G , 81 @N4AeA4
family. He had no children. His wife
is a daughter of General Rodman and a
cousin OF Major Rodman, now in Manila.
/ Lieutenant BarnhaTdt, stationed at Fort
/ Leavanworth, and a son-in-law of Major
Rodman, fortunately arrived in the city
yesterday morning, and has in charge the
funeral arrangements which have not yet
taken positive shape.
Was a Cautious Rider.
Captain Ayres is said 10 have been an
expert and cautious rider. and at the time
of the accident was on the right side of the
street. while the wagon with which he
collided was clearly, 1t is said by eyewit-
nesses, out OF its legal latitude.
William B. Rupert was seen last even
ing at the police station by a Times re-
porter, TO whom he detailed the accident
insisting. however, that his horse was NOV
ing at a very slow trot and that he turned
10 the rear of the northbOund car because
he thought IL was about to come TO stoE
on the north side and thus partially block
L Street.
He said that he thought the shaft was
the cause of the cash in Captain Ayres
head: that when he had rounded the real
of the car the bicycle rider dashed iatC
him before he could check his horse ant
Iual luE udAu4 al l11oii4CAiAeA41 Va NAiS sNAAA@e
dragged the officer TO the curb.
General Burlington, Chief of Ordnance
was greatly attached to Captain Ayres. ant
was dumfounded when the news OF the
death was conveyed to him, When he hat
partly recovered from the shock OF the
announcement. he said: only to think
yesterday he was well and hearty, and to-
day he is dead. / can hardly believe it
The teamster who is responsible for his
Taa rel
Drivers in Washington are too careless
I have very nearly been run over half {
dozen times.
Captain Ayres was a fine soldier an(
courteous gentleman. / have know
him for many years, and was with him a
Rock Island in the eighties. Since he ha
been connected with this Office he has per
formed his work most faithfully, and hi
loss will be severely felt by the Army
He was experienced in ordnance affairs
knew the duties of his Office perfectly, ant
performed them in manner which gav
eminent satisfaction"
Captain Ayres' Career.
Captain Ayres was one Of the best known
officers in the Army, and considered al
expert on ordnance matters. On the 21s
Of last November he completed q service
of twenty-five years in the Ordnance De
partment
He entered the Military Academy from
Wisconsin September /, 1867, graduated
and was appointed second lieutenant Jun
u, 1871, promoted to first lieutenant, an,
transferred to the Ordnance Department
on November !, 1874; made captain Marcl
15, 1883. He served from the Atlant
10 the Pacific Coast Upon graduation h
was ordered TO the Indian Territory, an
for the next three years served at Fort
Wallace, Hays, and Riley, Kansas. Upol
: his transference 10 the ordnance branch h
was detailed TO Rock Island Arsenal Hi
nois. In 1877 he was chief Of ordnance @
the Department of the Platte, stationed a
Omaha, where he remained for severa
years. In 1882 he was stationed at tn
National ArmOry at Springfield, Mass
From 1884 10 1887 he was stationed a
: Benicia Barracks, California, and Van
couver Barracks, Washington. The mex
- year or two he was at Watervliet Arse
nal, West Troy, n. Y. In 1889 he wa
, stationed at the Sandy Hook provn
: grounds, and in 1890 spent some time i
Manchester England, watching the tes
Q OF mortars. In 1891 he was again in tn
West most OF the time at Omaha wit
the Department OF the Platte. From 1S9
to 1888 he was stationed at various time
at Sandy Hook Springfield, Mass; Middle
E town, Conn; Governors Island, n y, an
y Sea Girt, n. J. In the spring of 1898 h
was recorder of the board OF ordnance an
fortiications IN Washington. In Apri
! 1898, Just before war was declared agains
Spain, he was assigned 10 the bureau
ordnance of the War Department He wa
placed in charge of issuing stores, gun