The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-08-15
DEATR ON THE RAIL

Two negro men we're reported to have bee5
killed on the North western r. r, last Wednes
day oight One Of them was Will McDoo.
sld, . train hand, and the other an uskno va
negro. Who went to sleep on the track and
we kuocked of
Will Mcdonald was killed near Dalz,l
station. he wss sitting on th, rear cod Of
the tender, boldiog q chicken 10 his hand
snd when the chicken Auttsred aod attempt
Cd to get loose, be made grab at it, lost hi,
balance and fell between the tender and the
adjacent box Car and was run over.
Toe other negro was run over sbou,
hf.esn miles from this city. He was
evidently asleep on the track, for q vslise
Was seen BY the eide of the track, after h<
was run over, just q, If be bad placed it there
aod then eat down on the end Of the cross
.iss to rest. The engineer saw nothing ol
bin until after be vas struck by the engine
The body Of Mcdonald Was brought to this
city, and next uoroing Coroner Moses sum.
mousd jury to hold and inquest, but had ia
adjourn 80 several of tho witnesoes were no,
present
He then Get out for Dalzsll to bold an 10.
qoest over the body of The unknown ueero.
When he got to Dalxsll he tesri that the
negro's sody was Eve or six miles beyond,
aud that ouly work traios ran beyond Dal.
zeii, consequently be could not proceed to
the scene OF the accident and hold tho 10.
quest Coroner Aosss accordingly requested
Ssgistrate Folk to hold the inquest and be
returned to ibis city.
10 the afternoon be recoavened tho iury
and attempted to proceed With the ipauss,
10 tho Will Mcdonald case, bu,
toe witoess0s were still not fortbcom,u 70
and after world Of ioconsequ talk il
was agreed to adjourn until 6 o'clock Friday
afternooa. The membsrs Of the Jury wished
the inquest adjourned until Saturday moro.
log, 90 20 to give time for summoniug the
witnesses who were said to be near Camden 4,
that time while The Coroner wanted to hold
either Friday evening or Monday 90 90 no,
TO miss the campaign meeting at Spring Hill
Saturday.
Coroner Moses and the jury of inquest con.
cluded the iovestigstiou Of the killing oi
viii Mcdonald Friday afternoon. TIE ver
dict was that the said Will McDopsld
came to bis death by being ruu over and
killed oy train on tho North western R. r
and that no blame attaches to aoy of the
train crew or 10 the railroad, Mcdonald hav.
ing accidentally fallen from the tender while
the train was 10 motion. The evidence was
that McDonsid was . lsborer on the road
and boarded the ,eoder without permission
aod without the knowledge of the rgiueer
de was sitting 90 the tool box at the rear OF
the tender and when chicken which he was
holding got loose he lost bis balance in try
ing to recaptnre 1t and fell between the ten
der and the next car One leg and one arm
we're crushed to pulp aud he died in shor,
time from the shock.
Tne other negro reported to have been
killed the same night turned out to be very
much alive. He did 60 to sleep on the track
aud was Knocked of D the engine, but he
was ooiy stunued and after the train passed
on be got up aud went home FRIDAY
~hen Magistrate ok wen, no to the scene
OF toe accident the negro himself met the
Magistrate and the jury that he had cum
moued and explained the matter go clearly
'oa' INCEST was called IF and the jury dis.
missed.