Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-15
PITMAN5o PAGES DEATH
INQUIRY INTO THE CIRCUMSTANCES
20 ii
MADE ny THE CORONER.
Verdict of Jurye, to the Effect That
Manner of Death is
Unknown.

An inquest was held at the sixth precinct
station at noon today in the case OF John
c. Page, the pitman on the Columbia rail-
way, who was killed at 18th and H streets
northeast yesterday morning, as published
in The Star. The jury returned a verdict
stating that the manner of the pitmanS
death is unknown. The jury recommended
that the company be required to put a gong
or two men in each pit
The body of the deceased was removed
from the morgue this afternoon to the
house of Mr.. Carter, No 459 NJ street south
west, where Page boarded. 1t was learned
this morning that the father of the de-
ceased lives at Delwood N. c. The police
sent message to him, notifying him OF his
sons death. Arrangements for the funeral
will not be made until the father is heard
from.
Acting COroner's Testimony.
Dr. Fisher, the acting deputy coroner,
told of the examination of the body. He
found several discoloratons and burns
about the hand, arm and body. There was
also slight scalp wound on the left side
of the head He found most of the organs
in badly congested condition. The heart
was packed with blood The mans death,
he said, was due to paralysis of the heart,
undoubtedly the result of an electric shock
William Heindle, electrical engineer,
produced a drawing of the pillow pit, ex-
planning that there are two of what might
be called matches over the pit Witness
explained how the man in the Dit is sup
posed to make the changes between the
overhead and underground systems. I'm
less the switch in the pit is closed, it would
be impossible for a man jumping in the
pit to get an electric shock.
The pit is five feet deep, said the wit
ness, and there is bench on each side for
the man to stand upon in order that he
may reach the body of the car. Witness
he In a s
supposed to enter through the hatchways,
put sometimes he goes through the man
hole between the tracks in order to
two three steps.
Robert s. Glascock conductor on the Co
lumbia line, testified that his car moving
westward, reached the pit at 7:22 o'clock
and witness tied down his trolley. The
motorman became impatient and witness
called: whats the matter down there?"
lie received no response When he looked
down into the pit he saw that the pillow
had been attached to the car, but the lead
wire was not connected Mr. Allen then
Went down into the hole on the eastoound
track and saw Mr.. Page lying on the bot
tom of the pit
Made No Cutlery.
Page he said. made no outcry that he
could hear, nor did witness hear him groan-
ing.
How long does it usually take to make
connection?'
about thirty seconds" he answered
Sometimes it takes little longer"
How long did your car remain over the
pit before the man was found?"
About two minutes
George Rocket, motorman on the car
gave similar testimony. Before the pit was
reached. he said, the conductor pulled down
the trolley. Witness saw Page enter the
pit from the east-bound track.
Henry Vented, motorman, testified
that when his car reached the pit yester-
day morning he noticed Mr.. Rocket try
tf1p tIn l..
Witness suggested that Page may have
gone to the barn, but Rocket said he
knew he was In the pit. Witness made the
remark:
If he's in there he's dead"
He told of seeing the mans dead body in
the pit when bis car was moved from over
the pit Witness assisted in getting him
out of the pit
James Burroughs, conductor on the east
bound car. which reached the pit just after
the fatal accident occurred. also gave testi-
nony He knew that the trolley the
west-bound car was down.
Jonas Wills, colored, employed at the car
house as a car cleaner, testified that he
went into the pit after the accident hap
pened. When witness went to the pit he
found Page lying on his back with his
head to the south. H assisted in removing
the body to the street.
Edward F. Allen. night foreman of re-
pairs at the car house, gave similar testi-
mony. He was the first to enter the pit,
and he found that Page was dead. In go
Ing from the east to the westbound track
witness said, the switch could not be
opened by walking against it. Page he
said. had turned blue. The westbound car,
he said stopped over the pit in the proper
place and the trolley was down.
Page Was n Competent Man.
Mr.. Heindle was recalled and he said
that Page was competent man in the pit
The voltage the Columbia line, he said,
is about 600, and this he regarded as not
dangerous. Men frequently get shocks, he
said. and recover in a day or two He
thought that the accident must have occur
red by Page getting against the bar when