The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-11-13
MANGLED ON THE TRACK,
CONDUCTOR WIN. A. FERREBEE IN
STANTLY KILLED.

Was in Charge of Section of Circus
Train when He Lost His Life-Ac.
cident Occurred at Central juno
ton. seven Miles From the City
No One Saw Southern Railway
Conductor Run Over and COrOner's
Jury Could Not Learn what En-
gfne Killed Him-Ferrebee Was
PopuIar on the Road-Funeral
VIII Take Place This Morning in
Savannah
William A. Ferrebee, well known
sa..tnern Railway conductor. was run
over and crushed to death yesterday
morning at Central Junction, seven
miles west of the city. The body was
horribly mangled, and one of the con-
ductors legs was severed from the
trunk.
No one witnessed the accident and
the coroner's investigation held last
night the jury returned verdict that
the conductor game to ihs death from
injuries received from unknown train.
1t was slightly foggy at the time of the
accident but this is not believed to
have had anything to do with the
death of Ferrebee.
Ferrebee was in charge of the first
section of Robinsons circus train and
lost his life while arranging to get his
train through the junction point with
out delay. No sound left his lips when
he was struck down and mangled by
the locomotive, or at least none OF
those at work at the junction heard
him.
Flagman ]. H. Huffman of Ferre
bees train was the last man who saw
the conductor alive. 1t was only d
few minutes before Ferrebee's crushed
body was dicovered, several feet from
where he had been left standing by the
fiagman. Huffman stated that he
left his conductor to go forward and
flag train No. &c. passenger from the
city. He tagged the train and was re-
turning to the circus section when he
was told that Ferrebee had been run
over and killed. AS far as the wit
ness knew a Plant System switch en-
CINE was the only locomotive to go
over the crossing, where Ferrebee met
his death, between the time that he
was left standing on the track ana
when his body was found.
Engineer j. f. Cummings of the
Plant System engine. testified that he
knew nothing of the killing of the
conductor, and was certain that his
engine did not kill the unfortunate
man. The crew was instructed to in-
spcct the engine for traces of blood,
hut none were found From the man.
ner in which the body was cut up there
must have been blood left on the en-
g.ne that killed the conductor.
The testimony before the coroner s
jury was unsatisfactory, and it could
not be determined what train killed
the man. Ferrebee lost his life at a
point where the Seaboard Air Line
and Plant System tracks cross, anG
one of the witnesses stated that two
Seaboard Air Line trains had passed
over the crossing before the F@ant
system engine covered the ground.
The fact was broughe out that there
were several engines at the junction
when the accident occurred and that
preparations were being made to get
the circus trains on the road.
The remains of the conductor were
brought to the city and taken to the
undertaking establishment of Thomas
Henderson's Sons, after which Ferre-
bees family was notified. His wife
came to Savannah at once from Colum-
bia and his father and mother. who
live in Ridgeland, will arrive
this morning. Two of his sisters
also came to the city yesterday.
Ferrebee was "a years of age and
was popular on the road. He was very
well known in Savannah and highly
thought of by those who enjoyed his
acquaintance. He was a member of
the Order of Railway Conductors. the
Mystic Shriners and the Jacksonville
Commandry of the knights Templar.
Palestine Conlmandry of Savannah will
attend his funeral with the other or
ders.
The funeral will take place this
morning at II O'Clock from the resi-
dence of Mrs. M. T. Davis. his aunt. at
No. 124 Harris street, east. The SER
vices will be conducted by Rev. Ed. F.
Cook pastor of the Wesley Monument
tai Church, and the interment will be
in Laurel Grove Cemetery. The de-
ceased leaves no children.