Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-17
INJURIES WERE FATAL
DEATH OF FRANK Y. HARDING
OF wooDsIDE, MD.
Was Station Agent and Had Gone to
Platform to Receive Mail
Struck by Engine.

Frank V. Harding, station agent of the
| Baltimore and Ohio railroad at Woodside,
| Nd. was struck by the engine of the Gath
| ersburg local about lis o'clock yesterday
| afternoon at Woodside and died later from
shock. The only witnesses to the acct
dent were the engineer and baggagemaster
of the train which struck him.
The train is known as No. 81, and left
Washington at 1880 o'clock. 1t is due at
Woodside at Iii o'clock. The engineer of
the train was Benjamin L. Vermillion
and Richard C. Moore, the conductor.
Mr.. Harding was In the custom of
meeting the train daily to receive the noon
mail from Washington. The train usually
slows down in order to permit of the mail
l<bag being thrown from the baggage car.
AS IT happened yesterday there was no
mail for Woodside. and as a result the
train did not stop but continued under full
speed Thinking the train was going 10
stop, Mr.. Harding walked up the platform,
ana being too near the edge, the pilot of the
engine struck him in the back, throwing
him suddenly headforemost into a clay
bank His right foot caught IN the plat
form. breaking his ankle.
The engineer brought his train 10 StahQ-
still about 80 yards from where the acct
dent happened. and returned to where Mr.
Harding had fallen and the injured man
was placed aboard and the train Pfoceeoeu
at fun speed for Keusington Md where
DR. Eugene Jones, surgeon of the BalI-
more and Ohio railroad, was summoned 10
attend him.
Conversed With Surgeon.
Mr.. Harding was conscious upon his ar
rival at Kcnsington, and after being given
stImulants he told DR.. Jones the story of
the accident as related above, giving his
full name and his age as ffty-six.
"OId man, you made a lucky escape, said
DIR. Jones
II did that" he replied, in his customary
tone.
After his ankle had been bandaged with
splints he was placed aboard southhound
train for Washington. Following a couple
of sinking spells he rallied, but al 2:15 he
sank into Inconsistencies and at2:"oo CLOCK
died aboard the train between Linden and
Woodside. The train was stopped and his
body taken to the home of his mother, MRS.
Mary Harding.
In addition to a broken ankle he received
several slight bruises on his body and
small Commissions on the back of his head
and hand In the opinion of Health Ohcer
William l.. Lewis. who was present at the
cOroner's inquest. death resulted from
shock Mr. Harding had previously suffered
two strokes of paralysis
The coroner. Mr.. Z. c. Keys, summoned a
jury. and after viewing the body and col
lecting such information as could be OBJ
tanned the jury expressed the belief that
death was due to unavoidable accident.
DIR. Jones account of the accident and
expert testimony by Health OfflCer Lewis,
were heard by the jury. The inquest will
be continued this afternoon, when the en-
glneer and baggagemaster of the train will
testify.
The jury was composed of Mr.. f. r.
Keys foreman, and Messrs. T. c. Faulkner,
+. w. Birgfeld, G. ID. Holmes, A. c. Stubbs,
J. II. Sawyer J. w. Anderson. E. w. CIs-
sell, W. {. Wilson, NJ. a. Armstead, T.. Il.
Olds and j. E. Bradford.
Native of Woodside
Mr. Harding was the son of Mrs Hard
ing and the late DR.. Jusiah Harding of
Montgomery county, and a brother of Miss
Henrietta Harding of Woodside, Md, and
Mrs. w. w. Riley of Washington. He was
born at Woodside and was well-known
throughout the surrounding country, where
he was quite popular. He active
member of Grace Episcopal Church. About
two weeks ago he was appointed to the
position which he held at the time Of his
death. He was struck by a train about
four years ago in the vicinity of Woodside
and thrown down an embankment, being
badly lacerated. but no bones were broken.
Again last winter. It was said, he was in
the way of a train and would have been
struck had not the engineer lessened the
speed of his train. He was known by all
the employees of the Metropolitan branch
Funeral services VIII be held at Grace
Episcopal Church Sunday afternoon a 230
O'Clock Rev. Thomas G.. Faulkner, pastor
of the church, will Oftfciate The inter
ment will be in Rock Creek cemetery