The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-25
One of the Most Eminent Physicians of South Meets
 a Horrible Death
FELL UNDER PASSENGER
 COACH AT 24TH STREET
Left Buggy to Hold His Horse, and, Stumbling, Fell Across the Rail-
 road Track and Rear Truck II Passed Over His Body.

Dr. W. F. B. Davis, one of the foremost physicians not only of Birmingham, but of the entire south. and man greatly be- loved in this community, was run over and killed yesterday afternoon about 1:10 o'clock by the rear coach of an Alabama Great Southern train at the Twenty fourth street crossing, The two wheels of the rear truck of the car passed over his body Just above the hips and death ensued in a very few minutes.
 As soon as the wheels had passed over Dr. Davis several people ran to him and he was carried to the pavement, where he soon died. He never spoke after be- ing run over.
 Ldge Loys ambulance was summoned and the body was carried to his under taking establishment, where an investiga- tion was started by Coroner Paris. Later in the afternoon the body was carried to the family residence, 2l19 Avenue l.
 Witnesses agree that Dr. Davis drove up to the crossing on the north side and there stopped his horse to allow accom- modation train No. 5, from Chattanooga, to pass He sat in the buggy until most of the train passed. The horse being ner- vous and very near the cars, he sprang out, apparently to catch the brldle rein, when he stumbled or caught his foot in the wheel in alighting and fell beneath the last passenger coach of the train. The wheels of the rear truck crushed him and killed him almost instantly.
 Wheels Did Not Cut Body.
 The wheels did not cut the skin on the body, but there is deep blue mark nearly two inches wide running around the body where the wheels passed. The backbone was broken just above where the spinal column ends, and the right leg is broken just below the thigh. On the leg there are several bruised places, and on the face the skin Is scratched off In several places. It is considered won herful that the skin was not broken where the wheels passed across, but phy- scans state that this Is possible where there, is heavy clothing to protect the body.
 Some doubt was raised about the wheels running over the body, but in the overcoat pocket was found a small metal ease such as is carried by physicians, and this was mashed. It showed where the fianges of the wheels had passed.
 As nearly correct detail of the ac- dent as can be obtained from witnesses Is as follows:
 Drove Up to Crossing.
 Dr. Davis drove up to the crossing. where there are three or four tracks north of the track on which the train was coming. He crossed two of these tracks, which placed his horses head within few feet of the track on which the train was passing. He arrived be- fore the engine of the train had reached the crossing, and the watchman waived The red flag. pr. Davis turned his horses head towards the east, the direction from which the train was coming, and sat quietly in the buggy with the reins in his hand. The buggy was but few feet from the train. Just as the front end ,f the last coach passed by the horses head Dr. Davis jumped out of the buggy, apparently to go towards the horses head. He either tripped in the wheels, pr was thrown by the horse jerking his head, under the passenger car.
 AL. he threw his feet in the air and was turned over twice. When picked up he was about five or six feet from the place where he fell under the train.
 Ernest Saunders, aged IA years, stepson ,f w. G. Jones of Woodlawn. says he vas an eyewitness.
 'Dr. Davis was driving across the track. md the flagInan had the red flag out. The rain was coming down from the east The doctor looked up and saw the train coming, and jumped from the carriage He reached for the reins of the horse and grabbed them. The horse jerked his head around and threw the man under the wheels, which passed over him before he could get up.'
 A number of railroad workmen, who were near the crossing. tell various tories, conflicting in measure, of how he accident occurred.
 The Coroner's Opinion.
 Coroner Paris, who investigated the natter thoroughly, said late last night hat he had completed his evidence and hat he believed Dr. Davis in jumping nut of his buggy had stumbled and fallen onward under the train.
 Coroner Paris last night took one of the hoes worn by Dr. Davis and examined 1t loosely. He states that there was oil or .rease on the shoe and that it was scratched on the toe, as if 1t had been taught in rail. He also went to Twenty ,ourth street and examined the tracks here On the north side two tracks meet md where they come together is what is ,nown as a frog and the coroner be-
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