The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-10

when l was only FIVE or six feet away ne
suddenly stepped across the track
Il hardly knew what 70 do just then
l had my brake tight and the car sliding
along slowly. I releaser the brake and
threw the reverse lever, and just as
did so the car struck him. / saw him
turn towards me with the car but few
inches away, and this was the first time
he saw the car l rang the bell. but l
understand that he was deaf and could
not hear it As he turned and saw the
car bearing down upon him he put out
his left hand as If to stop the car. That
is ABOUT all l saw OF the accident. he
disappeared and l knew the car hit him,
but / was trying to stop and did so hve
or six feet after the car struck him.
got out and helped pull him from under
the trucks"
Roscoe Lowe is one of the oldest motor
neers of the company and his record Is
without a blemish. He stands high with
the company and among his fellow work
men as a careful, diligent and conscien-
tious motorneer. His employers when ne
gave his story of the accident knew that
he lad used every means within his
power to stop that car before 1t struck
Alexander McClafferty. The Topeka ave
nue-West Side cars are the heaviest on
the system and they run easily Their
weight and power give them great mo-
mentum when once started, and one can
and speed OF the car when the power was
turned of in the middle of the block west
Men who know have figured the weight
drift good many feet without the use
of the current once it has been applied
OF where the accident occurred and ii Is
said the motorneer stopped the Ca
great deal quicker than is usually the
case. He did his work well and the com
pany does not attach any blame to him.
Superintendent Morrison of the COM
,,any last night made the following state
.nent regarding the accident:
1T was one of those unavoidable acct
dents which happen in the course Of
every railway mans life. This is the
third accident almost identical that has
come under my notice since I have been
working with street railways.
Under our rules the car stops only
at the far crossing in the direction the
car is travelling. Mr.. Lowe saw this
man coming out to the tracks and natur-
ally supposed he wanted to ride. and the
motorneer acted accordingly. He prepar-
ed to stop the car at the usual place and
from the statements of witnesses which
/ have read Mr. McCiafferty stepped in
front of the car several feet before the
proper stopping place. and Mr.. Lowe nor
anyone else could not have stopped in
time to save him.
This was a most deplorable accident
and we lay the blame on no one. Mr.. Nc
Clafferty was deaf, ! understand. and
could not hear the shouts of the specta-
tors or the ringing of the gonf, and he
apparently did not look to see if a car
was coming until it was tov Iate..
This system has been remarkably freN
from accidents since it was constructed
This is the third fatality in the history
Of the company in this city.
1--WE regret the accident very much.
and 1 informed those connected with the
Home and the undertaken that any aid
we could furnish would be cheerfully
given and we hold ourselves in readiness
to aid the friends and relatives in any
way possible
The funeral services will be conducted
Monday morning at o'clock from the
Kansas Masonic Home, corner of Seneca
and Maple streets. Albert Pike Lodge
will conduct the services and the impress
sive funeral ceremonies of the order WEI
be used. Cars will be in waiting at the
Home to convey members to the ceme-
terv after the services at the Home.
accident and went to the scene and him
self talked with number of witnesses
of the accident. and conferred with the
superintendent of the Masonic Home and
other friends of the dead man. He also
conferred with the street car company,
and last night announced that unless the
daughter demanded it. no inquest would
be held. The coroner. after his examin-
alton, was satisfied that no blame could
be attached to the street car company or
the motoneer, and as the company and
friends were also satisfied with this. he
decided not TO impanel a jury unless the
only known relative, Mrs Myers, de-
manded ii on her arrival in the city
this morning from her home in Centraiia.
The facts of the case will be explained to
her when she reaches Wichita and If
she is not then satisfied jury will be
called and an inquest held to establish
the blame for the death of her father.
Alexander McClafferty was born in Yer
mont. October II. 1914. His father was an
officer in the British army during the
war of 1872 But very little is known of
his mother or of Mr.. McClafferty's early
life He Joined the odd Fellows sixty
years ago. and became a Mason in 1853.
while in Wisconsin.
During the war of the rebellion Alexan-
der McClafferty served as a private in
company c. Forty-sighth Wisconsin in
fantry. and was discharged at Fort Leav-
enworth. Kan. in 1865. After the war.
Mr.. McClafferty thought a great deal OF
the west and its possibilities, and moved
to Centralia, Nemaha county, where he
made his home until five years ago. when