The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-11
FELL FROM A TYBEE TRAIN.
ROBERT j. EBBs' SUDDEN DEATH
YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.

Fell From the Train While on His
Way to Tybee Late Yesterday and
Died shortly After From His In
juries-Ebbs Well known in the
City and was Formerly Associated
with the Savannah Theater-Had
Recently Been Foreman of Gang
at Fort ScreVen-His Body Brought
to the city and Turned over to
Coroner GOette.
Robert J. Ebbs fell from the 5:25 o'clock
Tybee train yesterday afternoon and re-
ceived injuries that resulted in death fif-
teen minutes later.
The accident occurred in the neighbor-
hood of the three-mle post, and while the
train was running at it's usual speed.
Ebbs with the news agent, Brandt Gold
smith, and the baggage master, B. NJ.
Edwards, were in the baggage car. Ac-
cording to the story of both Edwards and
Goldsmith, Edwards was in the rear of
the car asserting the baggage, while
Goldsmith was standing at the right door
of the car looking out and with his back
10 Ebbs, who was sitting in the baggage
masters chair near the left door.
Edwards heard a movement of the chair,
and looking from his work. saw that il
was empty and tipped forward, leaning
against bag of ice. He called to Gold
smith, who was still looking from the
window, saying: Where is the man that
was in here?" Goldsmith looked around,
but not seeing him in the chair, opened
the front door, thinking that he had gone
through it.
The search for the missing man took
but a few minutes, and then the baggage
master pulled the bell rope, and explain
ing to the conductor his fears as to the
fate of the missing man, the train was
run back until, within about half a mile
from where ii had stopped, the bleeding
and unconscious man was found lying in
the marsh about eight feet from the
track.
He was placed in the baggage car and
Or. J. G. FARRELL and DR.. J. S. Howkins
who were aboard summoned. They could
be of no service as the man s head had
been so badly crushed through contact
with crosste that there was absolutely
no chance to save his lie He died fifteen
minutes after bsing picked up. before the
train had reached Lazaretto creek
AS SON as the train reached the island
Information of the accident was sent to
the city. Coroner Goette was notified and
took the next train down. bringing the
body up to the city en- the train that left
Tybee at 7:40 o'clock
Mr. Ebbs was about 80 years old, and
native of This city. where he was we'll
known and had many friends. AZ one
time he was connected with the Theater
in the capacity of ticket seller but has
recently been the foreman of a gang of
laborers at work on the government res
ervation az Fort Screven. To be near his
work, he was living on the island at Es-
THIS, where he boarded with Mr.. Johnson
Flyers.
There is reason 20 believe that Ebbs
was under the influence Of liquor when
he met his death, as both the news agent
and the baggagemaster were quite posi-
tive that he had been drinking when he
came into the car In fact. it was only
two days before the accident that Mr. c.
w Saussy. superintendent of the Tybee
road, had refused 10 let him get on the
train, unless accompanied by a friend, as
he was TOO drunk TO be able to take care
of himself. So far as is known. Mr.
Ebbs had no immediate rela lives in this
city.
His brother, VIM. Ebbs, his last remain
ing relative. died in a some what similar
manner and in almost the exact place
about three years ago.
Coroner Goette said last night that he
did not think an inquest would be neces-
sary. The remains are at the establish
ment of Coroner GOette. The funeral ar
rangements will be made to-day