Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-02-07
HEAD SEVERED FROM BODY
Mr. w. III. owen Loses Ills Life Near
West End OF East Branch Draw
Bridgo-In Attempting TO hoard
Allowing Freight Train Is E<noeit-
cd Down and Run Ovcr-Inauest
10 Be Held To-Day.

railroad
near the west end of the East Branch
drawbridge No. 5. when Mr.. w. II.
Owens lost his life.
Just how the terrible accident hap
pened will possibly never be known.
but the awfulness of the scene will
never be forgotten by those who wit
messed the result. 1t was heart rend-
ing in the extreme. and besides plung-
ing one family into the deepest grief,
a host of friends and fellow workers
were made sad, and gloom was cast
over the entire working force of the big
railroad system.
THE AWFUL ACCIDENT.
The last time w. II. Owen was seen
alive was at $3.50 o'clock, and then he
was, was well and happy and attending to
his duties. At els o'clock kind and
sorrowing friends were picking up his
remains. which were scattered for more
than hundred yards along the rail-
road track
AS the accident was not witnessed by
any one the most reasonable theory
as to how the tragedy occurred is given
by the trainmen. About half past :
o'clock deceased rode out to the june
ton of the Belt Line with the Norfolk
ana western railroad on yard engine
No. 13l, Mr.. 7. j. Hockey engineer
After attending to his work at that
place it is presumed Mr.. Owen started
BACK to Norfolk, walking down the
track. lie was overtaken by an in
coming freight train and it is thought
ne attempted to jump on this train as
IL was passing, but missed his footing.
ana railing under the train, was
crushed and mangled to death.
PICKED UP IN PIECES.
Conductor Harry Mauser. OF the in
coming freight train, was riding III the
cab to the locomotive of his train
winch had slowed up" for the bridge
when about hundred yards from the
west end of the drawbridge Conductor
manson thought he saw n man attcmpt
10 get on the engine. There was so
inuch steam escaping from the loco
motive ut the time that he was moi
sure about this. but when an investi-
cation was made it was found that n
man had been killed
THE HEADLESS BODY.
The first piece Of the body found was
the headlcss trunk, with one leg cut off
above the knee and the other lust
above the ankle. The left arm was
also cut off and the right arm and
shoulder was gone.
me traiilmcn were greatly Mortified
~ ,H'S uncovered and had no
iuea VINO the dead man was. They con-
tihued their search and for a hundred
yards back the CHASTITY track of the
AWFUL decd was followed Both feet
We're found, the right arm was dlscov-
cred and the head was also found w.
ing GU, In the ditch by the track. The
,eit arm ana piece OF the leg from the
khee TO the ankle are stin missing.
TIE PIECES BROUGHT HERE
Inc pieces OF the body found were
brought TO Norfolk and friends of Mr..
owen at once recognized him. His
iainily was notified of the sad and ter
finie accident and the Corner OF Berk-
icy gave permission for the body to be
prepared for burial. The remains were
Smith.
An inquest has been ordered for 0
o'clock this morning. which viii be pre-
Siucu over by the Coroner of Berkeley.
LIVED IN BRAAIBLETON.
w. H. owen lived on Park avenue.
Brambleton. and leaves a wife and one
small child and three sisters. who lived
with him. lie was about "a wears old
Deceased had been in the employ of
the Norfolk and Western Railroad
company about six years, and held the
position of car inspector for the Nor
ioik yard and of the Belt Line railway.
lie was held in high esteem by the
c IN, ana WAS greatly liked by his
fellow workmen.
lie was member OF the Jr. o. u. A
NJ; VINO TOOK charge of the remains and
VIII conduct the burial
rather strange incident in cOnnec
non with the accident is that n large
WHITE dog was killed at the same time
ana place as Mr.. Owen, and the idea
vas advanced that he might have
stumbled over this dog. which made
nm miss his footing and the dog. in
,,H'hs To get out of the way, ran under