Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-03-28
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
CONDUCTOR RESPONSIBLE FOR
RAILROAD WRECK.
Coroner's Verdict on Death of Fireman
Atkinson of Southern Railroad
General News Items.
Evening Star Bureau,
No. 7o1 King street,
HED FTa1nrha~A 1nG
ALEXANDRIA


ALEXANDRIA, Va, March %, 1902
After an investigation of the circum-
stances connected with the death of Wes-
ton H. Atkinson, the fireman killed in the
railroad wreck at Manassas about two
| weeks ago, the coroner's jury returned a
verdict that the accident was due to the
| negligence of Bayliss Mcdonald, the con-
ductor, and ]. T. Thornton, the colored fire.
| man. of extra freight train No. 6, some of
| the cars of which were left standing the
main track, causing the accident.
| Conductor Mcdonald testified that he had
left the cars in the way of danger. having
forgotten the approach Of the other train.
He had thought of 1t about twenty min
| utes before the time, but later the matter
had completely slipped his attention. Mr..
Mcdonald assumed the blame for the ac-
! cident. Engineer Allen of the extra freight
| told of having inquired if the track was
| clear just before the collision. He said his
| fireman, Thornton made an affirmative re-
| ply, and a little later called to him to blow
| for down brakes, which he did, but too late
| to avert the disaster. The testimony of
| other witnesses was heard, but no addi-
tional facts of importance were brought
| out. The verdict was reached after
| deiiberation of twenty minutes The inves-
| LEGATION was conducted by Coroner Purvis,
and the jury was composed Of George Bry-
an, foreman; James F. Peyton, Edgar War
field, jr., H. J. Baker, Robert E. knight
and Robert Graham.
Plans to incorporate Town.
The people of Del Ray, St. Elmo and vi
cinity, Alexandria county, will probably
take steps soon for the Incorporation Of
| those places in one town, with a mayor
and town council. Recently a movement
with this end in view was started and
meeting was called to be held In the pub
lie school house, Mount Vernon avenue,
but the purpose was temporarily aban-
doned when it was learned that the state
legislature had passed resolution against
considering any more new business at this
session. petition for a charter will
doubtless be presented at the next session.
The two towns combined with the resi-
dents between have a population Of sew
eral hundred.
Injured in Fire.
Annie Young. colored. and two Of her
daughters were painfully burned in max
ing their escape from small frame house
near Gum Springs, Fairfax county, which
was destroyed by fire yesterday morning
Another daughter in jumping from the sec
ond story window had her hip dislocated
1t is believed that the building was pur-
posely fired.
General Matters.
Mr.. Gardner l.. Boothe of this city Is
among the members of the board of visitors
of Mount Vernon appointed yesterday by
Governor Montague for a term Of three
years, beginning April 1. The other mem
bers are Messrs Archer Anderson of Rich
mond, l.. c. Berkeley, Jr., of Danville w.
H. White of Norfolk and A. Moore of Ber-
ryville.
The Episcopal High School base ball team
will open the season the grounds near
this city tomorrow with a game with Mer-
cersburg Academy.
Appropriate services in observance of
Good Friday were held this morning in
Christ Church, st. Paus Church, Grace
Church, ST. Mary's Catholic Church and
the German Lutheran Church.
The funeral of Mrs. Maria Dyer, whose
death occurred Wednesday evening, took
place this afternoon from the Second Pres
byterian Church. The services were con-
Quoted by the pastor. the Rev. DR.. Frank ].
Brooke, and the nterment was at Presby-
terrain cemetery.