Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-30
ST. JOHNS P. E. CHURCH
Railway Officials and Friends Of De-
ceased President in Consultation.
INVESTIGATIONS UNDER WAY
Effort to Locate Operator Of Block
Signals - Denial Of Reports
Of Vandalism.

Samuel Spencer, late the president of the
Southern Railway Company. who lost his
life In a wreck near Lawyers Station, Va,
yesterday morning. will take place Sunday
afternoon at 2 o'clock In St. Johns Prot
estant Episcopal Church on Lafayette
Square. The interment will be private.
This information was given out. at the
Southern railway Offices shortly after z
o'clock this afternoon. Mr. Fairfax Harri-
son, assistant to the president of the South
ern railway. with officers Of the company,
had been in conference with the family of
Mr. Spencer during the morning and made
the announcement at the hour stated. In
quiry failed to disclose the name of she
minister who will conduct the services or
the cemetery where the interment will be
made. The details, including the list Of
palbearers chosen, WILL, it is understood,
be given out this afternoon or tomorrow
morning.
The body of Mr.. Spencer which was first
taken to Gawlers undertaking establish
ment, 18th and Pennsylvania avenue north
west. Immediately after its arrival in the
city last evening was sent to the family
residence, 2012 Massachusetts, avenue
northwest. shortly after 10 o'clock this
morning. When inquiry was made~at the
undertaking establishment 1t was stated
that orders had been given that no in
formation whatever should be given out
relative to the disposition Of the bodies
of the other victims of the wreck.
Trying to Locate Mattox.
The various officials of the Southern rail-
road were in consultation for the purpose
of going over the conditions resulting from
the wreck of yesterday At the Offices it
was stated today by Superintendent of
Transportation Taylor that all efforts of
the agents of the company to locate Oper-
ator Mattox, who, it Is claimed, was oper-
ating the block signal tower at the en-
trance of the block in which the accident
had occurred, had failed. It was stated
that Mattox is a native of Sandy Level,
Va, and has been In the employ of the
Southern railway for the past three years.
Practically two Independent investiga-
lions are now under way for the purpose
of fixing the responsibility for the wreck
one by the superintendent in charge of the
division where the wreck occurred. and the
other by the general superintendent of the
road. 1t is stated that both will be minute
as to detail.
Throughout the morning many kilograms
Of sorrow were received by the general
officers Of the company. They were from
prominent men throughout the country,
and expressed the sincere sense Of personal
loss the senders felt In the death Of MIR.
Spencer.
Denies Stories Of Vandalism
Late In the morning Conductor Rust.
who was in charge Of train No. ST. the
engine of which plowed through the pri-
vate car Of President Spencer, called at
the general offices of the company. AL
though nothing would be divulged by those
to whom he reported, II is understood re
was outspoken In condemnation of the
stories Of vandalism that came from the
scene OF the wreck shortly thereafter. It
was stated by Southern official shortly
after noon today that Conductor Rust had
stated that there was abSOlu ,ely no van
dalism after the wreck. and that ne was
in a position to back up his statement
with necessary evidence.
The body of the unknown coIored valet
or porter, which was brought to this city.
was unidentified until abour 10 O'Clock us
morning, when a young colOred woman
called at the Office OF General Manager
Ackert in the Southern Railway building.
She stated that she desired information
concerning the disposition OF the remains
Of Ben Boswell, who had been killed In the
wreck This was the first intimation that
the officials had of the identity of the co..
ored man.
The woman who gave her name as But
Ter was told that she should communicate
with Chief Claim Agent Dulin of the road.
and she left Immediately in quest of that
official
Another colored woman, who said she was
the wife of Boswell, was met in the office
of Claim Agent Dulin.
Between sobs she managed to say that
her husband had left the city on Saturday
evening and the first news she had of the
accident was the announcement in the pa
pers yesterday. She declared that she did
not know what to do. as her husband had
left her with the baby boy and with abso-
lutely no support.
She stated that her home was at PIP v
street northwest and that her husband
had been In the service of the Southern
railway for about one year. Previous to
hot limo ha had haa In - o rnf
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad for about
ten years
The young colored woman who gave her
name as Butler stated that she lived in
Georgetown. According to her statements
she had known Boswell for some time.