The Washington times., 1905-01-01
RACE WITH ENGINE
COST HIS LIFE.
Ernest SnOOkS Dies After
Fall From Bicycle.
WAS RUNNING TO A FIRE
Cause of Accident Not Known-Coro ner
Nevitt May Hold an Inquest
Tuesday
WAS RUNNING TO A FIRE

Racing with fire engine cost Ernest
Snooks, - uty-one years old. of s2aS
Prospect Z venue. Georgetown, his life
last night. on Street, between Thirty
third ana sstlirry-fourth Streets north
west The fire, TO which No. Engine
Company was running, oceasioned SlVo
damage In the refectory of the George
town College. and was caused by a
lighted candle coming in contact with
branch of Christmas tree.
The alarm was sounded from box 716
by some one connected with Georgetown
College A New Year Eve party was
being held in the refectory. and one of
the priests suggested that the Christmas
tree, heavily laden with candles and
decorations of many kinds, be lighted
up This was done at dusk. and there
was no sign of fire for more than an
hour. Persons walking in the room are
believed TO have shaken the tree so that
one of the topmost branches hung over
a candle and was ignited
Burned Some Time.
The fire was not discovered until ra ,st
of the upper part of the tree mad been
burned away When 1t was discovered
piaEy sI:..I sIarks had fallen ~n he
CARPET and set fire 10 the floor T:st:Iz-
ing that those in The college could not
COZ with the situation it was Icenied
besI iu :uulmon fremen.
No. E;ngire Company. on NJ Street
between TnirIy-second and Thirty third
S-r.-cts. Georgetown was the :irst 10 :e-
,ir-nd 1'he tree horses attached TO
tn. heavy srtaTaer Were guided into Y
street at Thirty-':,:rd Street. and y"ans
Snuull< who WIS III the vic..,i-y "f f.s
nc zee. r:dinG u bicycle. decided tn tel
ON the eng np- He rode beside lie
steamer unti! the hose wagon came up
esldc 1t Thel he spurted up AMI get
in 'front.' OF the engine.
Called to the Boy.
Driver Jacob Oliver had MS horses go
ing at Il lively gait. and shouted 10 the
boy TO get out OF the way. The young
man evidently heard the yell of the
driver and s,ackened his pace. The hose
wagon vas almost abreast of the engine
when Snooks dropped back to a point
about opposite the singletree of the
steamer Tint WAS the last seen of linn
on the bicycle. Whether he was struck
by the singletree or his front tire slip
ped on {, piece of ice is Il matter of con-
lecture Near the corner of Thirty-third
and y Streets, however. the younS mar
was hi.rled from his wheel. and was
dashed against the curb.
Several citizens who were watching
the apparatus pass. saw Shocks land on
the curb and his wheel fly from under
HIM and rushed to his assistance. He
was :n great pain, but conscious. when
they reached him. Georgetown Univer-
sity Hospital is three squares from the
scene of the accident, and 1t was deemed
better to carry him to the institution
thar To summOning the patrol wagon
from the Seventh precinct station
His Injuries Fatal.
When rlaced on the operating table
t was found that he was suffering from
a severe laceration of the scalp, AMI
several of his ribs were frac' ura A
closer examination disclosed the TACT
that C-.e of the broken ribs had pu.:ct,lr-
Drrhaees.
Shortly after 10 o'clock he died. with
out regaining consciousness. Coroner
hewitt was informed and ar iered the
body taken to the morgd2. and will.
in All likelihood, hold all inquest on
Tuesday.
oliver saw the man hu lied to the
ground but thinking no serious injury
had been received. continued on TO the
fire When the college was reached
considerable difficulty was experienced
in fe.Iirg into service. on account pr
the fact that the big. gray building Is
aEout II block from the nearest IRE
plug. The fremen made quick work
OF the flames, and after some furniture
having an aggregate valde of SJ6o, was