Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-01
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY
Mr.. William K. Furguson Instantly
Killed.
Knocked Down aud Run Over by nm
Electric Chr Neck nrokcn aud
BODY otherwise Badly ManEled-
Funeral ro>Day.

day morning, aboutt6:SO o'clock, on
Coiley avenue. opposite the Norfolk
knitting Null whereby A1r. William Is.
Ferguson was instantly killed. The ac-
cident was q particularly sad one, as
deceased was one or the most highly
respected citizens III the city, and
leaves q wife, three children, relatives
and many friends to mourn his awful
and untimely end. His death has cast
gloom over the locality in which he
lived, and only expression of regret
and sympathy for the bereaved family
were heard yesterday.
PROMINENT BOOKKEEPER.
William N. Ferguson was 81 years
old and lived on North, near River
street lie was employed at the Norfolk
knitting Mill as bookkeeper, having
been with the house for seven years
Yesterday morning early, as was his
custom. MIR. Ferguson went to the
mil to open up the establishment pre-
paratory to entering upon the work
| of the day. While on his way to the
mill he was Joined by MIR. Augustus
Miller, an empioye of the factory, and
the two proceeded to the mill to-
| Sether.
After entering the yard to the fac
tory. MIR. Ferguson returned to the
street, and started to cross the
thoroughfare, as though he intended
going TO Smiths bakery.
DID NOT SEE THE CAR.
Mr. Ferguson apparently did not see
trolley car No. 81, in charge OF Motor
man John Flora and Conductor John
Burton, which was going east, and was
the second car out from the Atlantic
CITY sheds. There. was no head light
on the car. but daylight was just
breaking. and Mr. Flora saw deceased
walking as. though he intended to cross.
He says he was running his car about
Tour miles an hour, and Immediately
reversed his current, applied the brakes
| and also calle dto Mir. Ferguson to
| keep off the track.
| Deceased did not see the car or
thousht he had time to cross the track,
Tor he Kept straight ahead. He had
barely stepped upon the track when
he was hit by the car with great
force and knocked tUwn. The fender
failed TO catch the body, which was
dragged some distance before the car
passed over 1t.
BODY BADLY MUTILATED.
AS soon as the car could be stopped
the motorman and conductor FASTENED
10 the unfortunate man, and Mr.
George 1. Smith. who saw the accident.
also ran to see IL anything could be
done for the relief OF the man. Mr.. Au-
gustus Miller heard the excitement and
ran to see If any assistance could be
rendered.
The unfortunate man was beyond all
human aid, however, as he was in
stantly killed. The neck was broken.
one arm was nearly torn from the
socket and the body badly mutilated.
The H,-..2,-ns were removed to n saor-
age room in the mill and afterwards
taken to his home, on North and River
STREETS.
| AN INQUEST HELD.
Coroner Newton viewed the BODY.
and at IL O'clock held an inquest in the
Hsian Ta city Ward school building.
Ihe following gentlemen constituted
the jury: Messrs. Frank Topham,
Enoch CaDps, r. II. Thayer. 4. Ar
Battley, John Fendley and ]. L. Sad
! Ter.
The witnesses who testified were
Burton, Mr. George ]. Smith, Mr.. An
snstus Miller and Mr.. John Camp.
The testimony adduced was in ac
cordance with the account given above.
~ o'clock the jury adjourned to the
office of High Constable Pettis cornar
Talbot and williams streets where
they returned the verdict that the de-
ceased came to his death from n frac-
ture OF the neck and ribs and other
injuries to the body in being run over
Dy car NO. 81, Of the Norfolk Street
Railway Company.
Motorman Flora and Conductor Bur-
ton were taken before Justice Tomlin.
| OF the Police Court. yesterday. and nd
mitted to bail under a bond OF 81. 600
each with Superintendent Rose
poIouGH' OF the street Railway Com
pany, as surety. The case will come
up TOT Il hearfirrg next Tuesday the
| Police Court.
MIR. FERGUSON'S FAMILY.
MT. FERGUSON leaves II widow and
three children-two sons and daugh-
ter, also three brothers. Messrs George
D.. Thomas r.. and r. It. Ferguson.
The funeral Will take place this af
ternoon at o'clock from the ColIey
Memorial Presbyterian Church, in At
lantic City Ward.