Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-08
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
FOUR ITALIAN LABORERS AC-
CIDENTALLY KILLED.
Became Scared at Whistle and Jumped
Under a Moving Work
Train.
Special Correspondence OF The Star.

ALEXANDRIA, Va, August s. 1905.
Becoming panic-stricken by a sudden
alarm. one Austrian and four Italian labor
ers, who Were employed on the work of
double-tracking the Richmond, Fredericks-
burg and Potomac railroad at a point about
four miles southwest of this city, jumped
from gravel cars yesterday afternoon short
ly before q o'clock to their death under the
wheels of passing work train Four were
killed Immediately. and another died an
hour later just as he was being taken into
the Alexandria Hospital. Another man
was injured. but Is expected to recover He
is being treated at the Alexandria Hospital
The men were known principally by num-
bers. but this morning the following names
were ascertained Giovalno Bellumo Fran
Geo MAIDS. Christmas Bertino, a man whom
his companions called NH and another who
went by the name of Tony. The name of
the injured man was not given. The men
belonged to force of $50 laborers engaged
In shovelng dirt from several cars The
train on which they were working was
standing on the track intended for south
bound traffic. but which was being tenn
porarily used for trains going the other
way.
While the laborcrs were busy the ap-
proach of a work train, which was on the
northhound track, was noticed. 1t was not
travelling at high speed, and there was no
manned where they were, but the sound of
the whistle which was blown sharply two
or three times, from the approa ching engine
startled one of the Italians who apparently
imagined that collision was imminent.
Instantly the man leaped out toward the
other track. His movement was followed
In second by five of his companions. Three
OF the men jumped straight against the side
Of the engine and were Immediately caught
under the whee,s, their bodies. terribly
mangled. being thrown varying distances
Two fell under the wheels of the cars but
the sixth fell short and escaped with his
life The work train was stopped short
distance from the scene of the accident and
arrangements were made as soon as pos
slble for dtsposing of the dead and caring
for the injured. Both dead and injured
We're placed on board train, which was
hurried to this city. where the two sur
NiVorS were conveyed to the hospital. The
four men who had already died were taken
to the undertaking rooms of d. Domaine
IL Son. on King street.
The men We're in the employ of d F
keenan,, railroad contractor who has
headquarters at Franconia The foreman
of the force said this morning that lie could
oHer no explanation for the strange actions
Of the Italians, excepting that they were
seized with sudden panic upon hearing
the whistle of the approaching work train.
lie said that the train crew. seeing the
labOTerS jump, were on the point of Jump
ing themselves. thinking that the Italians
had unprecedented some imminent danger. He
also stated that before the dead and in
jured men could be placed on the train to
be brought 10 this city the four corpses
had been robbed of small sacks containing
money which represented the earnings of
the men for some time past The foreman
said that the looting had been done speed
lily. the bodies were found partially
Invested of clothing when the railroad men
took them i'll charge.
Justice of the Peace Richard Triplett of
Fairfax county notified this morning
md pol cd IN hnl a at tpT
noon at Demaines undertaking rooms. The
remains of the unfortunate were
visited this morning by a crowd of Their
friends a few of whom were brothers of
the dead. There were touching scenes of
grief as the mangied bodies Were recog-
piZpd