The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-08-09

Prominent Merchant of Roland.
Mr.. Waiter w. Mccormick "a promi-
nent merchant of Roland, was run over
at Wrightsville Beach last night DO 4
suburban car n was instantly killed.
His body was horribly mutilated. Both
legs were mangled below the knees, his
neck was broken, his left shoulder
crushed and he had a large scalp woun1
on the back Of his head besides his
body being crushed.
The horrible accident occurred at the
beach end of the Banks Channel trestle
The car was Ma. 81 conductor Lucian
Bishop and motorman James T.MooIe.
There is some doubt as to whether
the man was walking on the track or
whether he threw himself in front OF
the car. The motorman in Speaking of
the matter last night to a
representative of The Messenger stat
ed that when he first saw the man he
appeared to be leaning against a pile
Of wood which was piled a few feet
on the left side of the track and just
on the bank a short distance from the
end of the trestle. When he first saw
was about ten feet from MIN. The mo-
torman stated that when the car was
lin about five feet of the man he either
fell across the rae or threw himself
across it. In a flash the car was upon
him and as he was lying on the track
the fender did not catch him but pass
ed over his body. The entire car PASS
ed over him and ran about ten feet
past him before it could be stopped .
When those on the car rushed back
to see to what exent the man was in
jured a sickening sight met their gaze.
The man was lying stretched across
the track and life was almost extinct
by the time those on the car reached
him.
Upon examining papers in his pock-
cts ut was learned that he was w. w.
Mccormick. This fact was learned by
a Seaboard Air Line pass he had in his
pocket. He also had a considerable
amoun Of money on his person n
he wore a handsome gold watch.
The body vas removed from tIla
track and laid on the ground a few
yards distant to await the coroner.
"A car was run to the city and the
coroner, DR.. c.. D. Bell, at once sum-
moned. Mr.. J.. F. WUuIvin, the I'M
dertaken. was also seen and a coffin Sc
cured and carried back to h beach.
The remains were brought to the city
this morning about 8 o'clock and were
carried to the undertaking establish
ment of J. F. Woolvin to be prepared
for burial. The body will be sent to
Pembroke this afternoon on the Sea-
board train.
The hotels were visited last night and
Nc Cormick's name did not appear
~
mar from Maxton was in the city last
might who knew Mccormick. H stat
ed that he owned a store at Roland and
HI he was also a member of the firm
OF Breeze & Mccormick at Pembroke.
Both of the above. firms do a general
merchandise business. Mccormick, it
was learned, was about So years of age
and was a Ia of sober habits. He
said Mccormick was worth considera-
bile property and the two stores he was
connected with were the largest in the
section in which they were located.
There are several theories as to what
caused the man to fall upon the track.
Some think he Intentionally threw
himself in front of the car and others
think that the motormaE was mistaken
when he thought the man was standing
against the pile Of wood. 1t is thought
by many that he vas walking along
the track in the direction of the beach
n that when he saw the car 1t was
almost upon him and in e~ndeavoring
to spring from the track he fell.
Motorman Moore stated that the car
was making between twelve and fifteen
miles per hour when the accident &C.
CURED. He said he was so close upon
b ma before he saw him that he did
MOI have time to put on his brakes
Erom the best information obtafna-
BILE the motorman does not appear to
have been at all to blame. James I.
Moore, who was the motorman, has been
running on cars for the past five years
and he stated that the accident last
might was the first one he had yer had.
He ran ON the cars in Charlotte for a
short time and has been in Wilmington
about four years, He came to the
city on his a soon after the accident
and went to the city hall and gave
himself UP. He was placed undo a
$500 bond, Mr.. NJ. f. n. Gouyeneur be-
coming his bondsman.
Saturday night seems to be an un
fortunate one for the Consolidated
Company. On last Saturday night the
n1:3o car from h sound struck Over
Jones. colored, near McCumber's Store
and he died from the injuries a few
days later. The negro was sitting or
the end OF a cross-tie when the cal
struck him.
Upon examining the car that STRUCK
Mccormick it was found that thu
guard board in front of the truck haC
been broken. This board is over al
inch thick and shows that the ca
must have struck the man with a.
awful force.
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