Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-22
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
INQUIRY REGARDING THE DEATH
OF A SOLDIER.
Investigation Postponed Because Of
Absence Of Witnesses-deneral
and Personal News.
Evening Star Bureau,
I01 King Street,

ALEXANDRIA, VA, December %, 1902.
coroner's jury summoned by DR.. WILL
/ liam r. Purvis met this morning at 1880
o'clock at the undertaking rooms Of w.
Domaine & Son on King street to investi-
gate the death Of Private Silas Woliver of
the 47th Company, Coast Artillery, U. 8. A..
stationed at Fort Hunt, Va, which oc-
CURED at the Alexandria Hospital Sunday
afternoon about 4 o'clock as the result Of
an accident three hours before on the
Washington, Alexandria and Mount Vernon
railroad at a point just below this city.
The jury was composed of the following:
Messrs. Richard Gibson, George Bryan, E.
Warfield, jr., Franck Warfield. J. Fred Br-
rell and Frank Martin. Owing to the
absence of important witnesses the iRvesti-
cation was postponed until tomorrow
morning at 1880 oclack. The coroner an
nounced that he had received notice
from the authorities at the fort that two
members of the post who were on the train
at the time the accident occurred could not
appear before the jury until tomorrow
morning, which was the reason for the
poStponement.
Private Woliver was conveyed to the
Alexandria Hospital soon after the inflic-
ton of the fata injuries. 1t was found
that he had been terribly wounded on the
head. the back part of his skull being
crushed in. 1t was impossible to save his
life. Corporal Thomas H. Appleby Of the
same company was seriously injured at the
same time and was also conveyed to the
hospital. An examination disclosed the
fact that he had received fracture of the
skull. but the doctors were hopeful of his
recovery.
Cause of Accident.
The accident was caused by the sudden
swinging of a heavy signal beam into the
windows of a trolley car at a point where
ha lie Of ha ole oAoS Of
a branch Of the Southern road on South
Royal street extended. The car left here
at 80 p. m. bound for the fort. 1t was IN
charge of Motorman Henry F. Burke ana
Conductor William j. Vernon and carried
about twenty passengers. AT the time the
crossing was reached the train was pro-
ceeding slowly, when. suddenly and with.
out warning, it is said, the signal gate,
which had been in it's correct position for
passage on the electric track, swung around
and caught the car at the second window
from the motor. tearing 1t and the next
window away and breaking down the inter-
vening woodwork. Hearing the crash the
motorman stopped the car Immediately. 1t
was found that Woliver and Appleby had
been terribly injured. They had been sit
ting in the seat through the window of
which the beam had crashed and both
men had been struck on their heads. In the
seat behind them were Sergeant Harry Cole
and Private Harold Knight, also of F ,rs
Hunt. They had an opportunity to dodge
and thereby escaped severe injury, but Mrs
Esther Henderson of 1016 18th street south
west, Washington, was not so fortunate.
In her endeavor to shield her little grand
child whom she was conveying to River.
side Park, Mrs. Henderson threw up her
hand and was struck by the beam. The
child escaped injury, but the grandmothers
hand was badly cut and bruised.
The body of the dead soldier was removed
to the undertaking establishment of W.
Domaine & Son and arrangements for the
funeral will be completed later. 1t was
stated that he was native of JonesviIle,
Lee county, Va, where his parents are said
to reside. He was about twenty-seven
years of age.
Corporal Appleby's Condition.
At the Alexandria Hospital this morning
1t was stated that Corporal Appleby was
resting comfortably. He is suffering from
a fracture of the skull, but the physicians
In attendance entertain hopes of his recov-
cry. He is about thirty years of age and is
from Virginia.
AT the place where the accident occurred
there is an arrangement designed to serve
as sort Of a signal gate for the trains
passing over the electric line and the freight
trains over the branch track of the South
ern, and 1t was the mishap to this, as stated
above that caused the damage In the
southwestern angle between the tracks |
lnere is a large post supporting a heavy |
beam which may be swung across either |
road. 1t is usually fastened across the |
Southern track, and was supposed to be in |
that condition yesterday, but its deviation |
showed that it was not secured as usual |
1t has been suggested that the arrange |
nent was tempered with. and that the |
arrlng of the passing car caused the arm |
% sway from its position.
Marriage This Evening.
Miss Annie Elizabeth Curtin, daughter of |
]. R. N. Curtin, and Mr.. A. Sid
ley Mankin. both of this city, will be mar
led this evening at s o'clock at the resi-
ience of the parents of the bride-elect 423
Worth Columbus street. Rev. Dr. George
L. Hunt of the First Baptist Church will
perform the ceremony which will be wit
lessed by only few immediate relatives
md friends of the two families. After the
marriage the bride and groom will leave
or a northern tour. at the conclusion of
which they will make their home in AL
Annual Election Of Officers.
O'kane Council, Catholic Benevolent Lee
ZION, held its annual election yesterday
fternoon in st. Mary's Hail. The officers
hosen were as follows: Michael Creegan.
resident; James Roche, chancellor: James
:. Quinn, vice president; Rev. Father H. j.
;utler, chaplain; ]. D. Normoyle, orator:
HomaS burroughs, ST., secretary; M. J. |
Mcfarland. collector: Robert L. Wenzel.
reasurer; NJ. Downey. marshal; William
Desmond, outside guard; John Nugent, in
ide guard; Messrs. Edward Quinn, William
l. Sweeney and Sylvester Breen, trustees
General Matters
The body of William L. Hayes, whose
cath occurred last Friday at his home in
Washington, was brought here this morn
lg and inferred in st. Mary's Catholic
Rev. Father H J. Cutler of st.
lary's Catholic Church In this city met
he remains at the ferry wharf and accom-
anied them to the cemetery. The process
ion was met also by the Alexandria Lodge
Elks, of which the deceased had been
member. His death was the first to oc-
ur among the membership of the local
'dge. The ritual Of the order was used at
ne grave.
Mr.. Augustine ]. Smith is i'll at the home
his son, DR.. William NJ Smith, 81
rince street Mr.. Smith had stopped here
, see his son and daughter, Miss Mary
NTH. while en- route from New York to |
lew Orleans on a business trip Saturday
corning he was stricken with paralysis.
Cards have been issued for the marriage | ,
Miss Louise Packwood Burke daughter
Mr.. and Mrs. Julian Thompson Burke
nd DR.. Louis Storrow Greene. The Ger,
nony will take place in st. Paul's Episco-