The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-23
KILLED INSTANTLY BY A CAR.
COLORED CHULD's LIFE QUICKLY
ENDED BY A TROLLEY.

Little 3-Ycar-OId COIOred Girl struck
by "A Battery Park Car on West
broad Street-RHn Across the
Track in Front of the Car and Was
Hit by the Running BOnrd-Negroes
Talked ThreateningIy AbOut the
Accident-MOtormnn waters Ar
rested, Hut Released by order of
Coroner GOettc.
Evalna Hobbs, a little negro girl, 81
years Old was struck by Battery Park car
No. on West Broad street last night
and instantly killed. The child attempted
TO cross IN front of the car, which was
moving at good rate of speed. She had
succeeded IN getting across the track, and
was struck by the running board Of The
car when almost out of danger. Her LETT
arm was broken and left side crushed in
The child was dead when picked up.
The accident occurred between Minis
and Huntington streets. The Hobbs child
with companion, a boy about years Of
age came out of Minis street and started
diagonalfy across West Broad street, GO
ing in the direction OF a frut stand at the
cars passing, a belt car going south and
a Battery Park car going north the for
mer being on the western track and the
latter on the eastern track. The cars were
passing each other as the children reached
the track. They stopped and let the belt
car pass and then started across. The
older child saw the other car and stopped.
The younger one either did not see the car
or, seeing il, was 100 young to realize the
danger. she kept on across the eastern
track, and had crossed the last rail when
struck by the running board and hurled
to one side.
Motorman J. W Waters was in charge
of the car. He Immediately stopped the
car and ran back with the conductor.
The accident was seen by several people
from the street, and a crowd gathered
very quickly. There IS large negro pop
ulation in that section, and the negroes
became very much excited when they
found the child had been killed. There
were threats and loud talking, but no
move was made 10 attack the motorman
or conductor. Policeman J. w. Behrman
came along about this time and placed
Motorman Waters under arrest, sending
him to the barracks.
When seen a the barracks by a Morning
News reporter Waters said he was going
north al a good rate of speed at the time
of the accident. The belt car had just
passed, going in the opposite direction.
when he saw something black running
across the track. There was not much
light in that portion of the street, and
he thought at first that the object was
a dog. A moment later he saw that It
was a litte colored child
Il was then in three feet of the child"
said Mr.. Waters, land l could not have
stopped had it been my own child. The
child was not touched by the wheels,
but was struck by the running board"
Mr.. Waters is SO years of age and has
been in the employ of the street railway
company for the last seven years, mis- en-
plOyment beginning previous to the equip
ment of the lines with electricity. Both
the officers and employees of the company
testify that Waters is one Of the most care
fui. as well as one of the most experienced
motormen in the company's employ. This
is his first accident il was stated
Inspector w. NJ. Kidwell of the street
railway company testified to Waters goo |
record as q motOrman. I'VE make il a
point said MIR. Kidwell, ITO put the most
expert and most careful men on the Bat
terry Park and other outside lines. becaus e
they are where they do not come under In =
eyes of the officers and inspectors as often
as those on the inside lines. There is not
more careful man in the company's ON
ploy than Mr. Waters. There are so many
children on West Broad street and along
the entire Battery Park route that it Is
necessary for the motormen 10 be very
careful in order to avoid frequent acct
dents. There are many small children.
colored children being in the ma
jority who play freely in the streets AMI
are constantly running across the tracks
| in front of the cars
! The dead child was taken 20 its home, at
| No. 81 Minis street, where her mother,
| Hasar Hobbs, and grandfather, Charles
| Hobbs, 1--we. Both mother aud grand
father were away from home at the time
/ of the accident
Coroner Goette was holding an inquest
in the matter of The killing of James Dix
on ~ Bonnie Thomas, at Pooler, Satur-
day. when notified of the accident. He
made an investigation and after inlerro
| gazing several Witnesses, concluded tha
the affair was entirely accidental He vii
hold an inquest to-day, however. After
satisfying himself that the killing was ac
cidontal Coroner Goette gave orders a
the barracks for the discharge of Motor
man Waters without bond.