Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-04-18
TRAGEDYON THE RA|LR0AO
Montgomery Thompson, OF This
City, Hurled to a Violent Death.
LIFE BLOTTED OUT IN INSTANT
Stepped in Front Of the New York and ST.
Louis Filler and Was Instantly
Killed.

One of the most distressing accidents
of recent wears occurred on the B. d
O. railroad at 7:45 Tuesday night,
when Montgomery Thompson the we'll
known freight conductor OF that road,
whose family resides on East Martin
street in this CITY. met a sudden and
violent death.
Mr.. Thompson was in charge OF an
eastbound extra freight pulled by en-
CINE. No. 1889, and his train had pro-
ceeded as far as Sir Johns Run, about
% miles west of this place, when it
: parted The disconnected train ran
some distance, but both sections We're
finally brought to a standstlll, with
the cab in the rear, which was occu-
pied by the conductor and his brake
man, standing on a curve.
When the sections of the freight
were stopped, Mr.. Thompson and the
brakeman Immediately alighted to as
certain the damage and get the train
III condition to resume its eastward
course. The conductor stepped over
to the westbound track to better see
the result of the slight mishap. and
was standing there without a premon-
ition of his sudden ana tragic end,
when No. l. the westbound New York
and st. Louis express, drawn by
engine No. 1921, with Engineer
Carts at the throttle came tearing
through the gloom of the night, round
ing the curve at the rate of 80 miles
an hour. Without warning. and with
no time to realize the terrible danger
of his position or make IN attempt to
escape. Mr.. Thompson was borne down
by the onward rush of the locomotive,
and hurled, in an instant, into the OBJ
livion of eternity. The impact of the
flying engine threw the mangled form
of the conductor against the brakeman,
who was knocked unconscious under
his train by the force of the body.
The news Of the fatality came by
wire to this city at s O'Clock, and was
communicated to the stricken family
Immediately. Expressions of regret
and sympathy were freely given on
all sides by the MANY friends of the
dead conductor. who was one of the
most popular men in the railroads
service. The remains.were brought to
this city Tuesday night at 10 80 on No.
as, and conveyed to the undertaking
establishment of w. III. Wilen where
they were prepared for burial. An
examination of the remains showed
that both legs were broken. n arm
and the chest crushed and the back
of the head mashed.
Mr.. Thompson vas aged 63 years.
He had been an employe of the b. q
o. for AZ years and was n of the
Oldest. most psinstaking and nopular
men in the emplove of the road. For
30 wears he had been a conductor. hav-
ing risen to that position from the
lowest step of the service. He was a
natirve of Middleway Jefferson coun-
tv w. Va, hut removed when a very
young man to this place, where he has
resided continuously since. He mar
ried Miss Laura L.. Blakney, who sur
wives him, together with the follow
ing children e. Harry Robert A.,
Joseph Raymond and Elizabeth M. all
residing in Martinsburg.
The funeral occurred Friday after
noon at 2 O'Clock from the late resi-
dence. Rev. Father Donahue o%fficiat-
ing. Interment in st. Joseph Gene
terry.