Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-01-16
FREIGHT CREW BLAMED
For the Fatal Wreck Near Cum
berIand Friday Morning
THE CORONER INVESTIGATED
Strange Fatality Attended the Family Of
Fireman Kefauyer, Who Was Killed
IN the Disaster.


Many visitors were attracted to the
scene of tile Evitt's creek horror I'D
which the Baltimore & Ohio passenger
train, No 4. was wrecked friday
morning and three men. Engineer ;.
Roberts. and Firemen Fl. 2. Kirby
and Frank Keefauver lost their lives.
The high bank, en- each side OF tie
tracks was lined with curious specta-
tors.
The wrecking crews worked hard
and fast and had the track open by 10
O'Clock. The wrecked engines were
taken to the South Cumberland shops,
where they will be rebuilt.
1t seems that the responsibility Tor
the accident rests on the crew of the
flight train, with which No. collid-
ed, with the exception OF Conductor
J. ID. Ellis, who had placed the train
on a switch with orders to remain
here until further notice and had gone
toiEvitt's Greek tower, to ascertain
how the passenger train was running.
While he was there some member OF
the crew took it upon himself to take
the train cot on the main track.
CORONER INVESTIGATED.
Coroner William Conner viewed the
bodies of Messrs Roberts, Kirby and
Keefauver at Buffers morgue and as.
sembled jury, which is investigating
the cause of the accident. The bodies
of Mr.. Roberts and Mr. Kirby were
sent to Baltimore last evening. The
body of Mr.. Keefauver was sent to
Brunswick.
Fireman Harry p. Kirby, 20 years
old. lived at 80 East Barney street,
South Baltimore. A widow ard two
little bows survive him. He had been
on the Baltim ore and Ohio railroad
for seven years.
Engineer S. E. Roberts lived at LOT
West Mulberry street. Baltimore. He
entered the Confederate army in 1860
and served under General Early dur
ing the war.
Mr.. Roberts was born in Martins
burg, about fifty eight years ago. His
widow and two sons Clarence and
Robert Roberts survive.
Engineer Roberts showed great cour.
age after the wre,k, talking to the
men who were trying to get him out
from between the engine and tender,
directing them and asking that mes
sages be sent to his mother and other
relatives. He was conscious until a
few minutes before he died.
STRANGE FATALITY.
Fireman Kesfauver was 3S wear old,
and leaves a widow and five children.
He had been in the employe OF the
Baltimore AND Ohio railroad at inter-
walls for IL years He was running as
an extra when he met his death. 1t
is said the regular fireman of the en-
CINE refused to make the run. saving
he felt something was going to hap
pen. 1t was then that Fireman Kee-
fauver was assigned to his place.
Keefsuver frequently stated he was
going to give up railroading and de-
vote his attention to his farm. but
the excitement of the work seemed to
have fascination for him, and he
was unable to break away from it. A
strange fatality has attenced the fam
lily. Jacob Keefauver, father OF the
deceased. was cut with an AK while
chopping wood, and died from blood
poisoning. His mother, who after
wards married VIM. Lands, WAS ia
tally shot by her second husband, who
then committed suicide. She linger-
ed week or so. An uncle of Fire
man Keefauyer was fatally injured by
being run over by heavy wagon
loaded with ore.