Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-05-11

A shocking and deplorable accident
occerred on the Wheeling street rail-
way line, at Benwood, last evening
shortly after six O'Clock, resulting in
Edward Coon, a young son of Mrs.
Fannie Coon, of McMechen street,
being killed almost instantly. The
incident, occurring as it did. at time
when the road was being operated by
new men. caused great excitement to-
prevail throughout the city and for a
time the situation appeared extremely
turbulent. In less time than is re-
quired to tell it, hundreds of men,
women and children f1ocked to the
scene of the accident and it required
the united efforts of the entire police
force to preserve order.
The story of the mishap, as related
by number of the eye-witnesses,
was substantially as follows: "At the
time the child, together with a
number of his youthful companions,
was playing near the corner of
McMechen and Fifth streets, and was
walking across the track toward the
west side of McMechen street, when
he was struck by south-bound car,
No. %, which was travelling at
lively rate of speed. The child was
caught by the fender and then thrown
under the car, where he was caught
between the wheels of the front truck
He was then dragged for a distance of
about one hundred and ten feet, and
when the car was finally brought to
standstill, the body had been thrown
under one of the wheels of the recr
truck. The motorman and conductor
ran to the boys assistance at
once, and removed him from beneath
the car, with considerable difficulty,
after which they carried him to his
home, which was quite near to the
stopping place"
BODY FRIGHTFULLY MANGLED.
-
DR.. j. w. Alley was summoned i'm
mediately and on arriving found that
the boys skull and both lungs had
been crushed; his neck broken; his
right leg torn off at the knee and his
body bruised in various places. Every
thing possible was done to alleviate
the child's sufferings, but he passed
away shortly after the doctor arrived,
having lived about thirty-five minutes
after the time of the accident Later
the remains were taken to Becker &
Sons undertaking establishment
where they were prepared for burial.
The deceased was six years of age
and was the son of Mrs. Fannie Coon.
or McMechen street. The mother of
the child will have the sympathy of the
community in her bereavement. The
arrangements for the funeral will prob
ably be made to-day.
Coroner Lacey was notified of the
affair and later jury was impanneled.
1t was composed of John Tomkins,
Edward Newton, Sr, Charles Sprouts,
Frank Bartlebaugh, Herman Shaw.
The coroner and the jury viewed the
remains last evening and an inquest
will be held at Coroner Lacey's office
this afternoon at one O'Clock. There
will be at least a dozen witnesses at
the inquest, and the testimony will be
of quite an interesting nature
The motorman and conductor, after
taking the child to it's home, took
their positions on the car and contin-
ued on through Central Benwood to The
terminus of the line and then started
toward the barns. The news of the
accident spread over the town in a re-
markably short time and hundreds of
people appeared on the scene Just as
the car was swinging around the loon
for its return to Wheeling. The car
was run at the usual rate of speed and