Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-04-28

Popular 9aill oa0 Wan Killed By
Jumping From Cars.
WAS ON HIS WAY TO WRECK
His Train Was About to Collide With
Another, and He Jumped and
Sustained Fatal Injuries.

tue service OF the baltimore and Ohio
railroad, and for the entire period
OF that time the foreman of the wrecK- |
ing crew at Martinsburg, died in the
Kings Daughters hospital in this
city at . O'Clock Sunday morning as
the result of injuries received at Black
Rock, near Cherry Run, a few hours
previously.
Foreman McGiil had received a sum-
mons about 4 80 O'Clock Sunday morn.l
ing to come to Cherry Run and re-
place a couple OF derailed freight cars,
and about an hour afterward left Mar.
tinsburg In charge of his train. When
he reached North Mountain ne re
ceived orders to proceed to the scene
OF the wreck on a certain siding, and
switched his train onto that track
with the impression that he held the
right 0 way. The engine of the
wreck train was in the rear OF the
cars, aud vas in charge of Engineer
McKeever. As the train rounded a
sharp curve near Cherry Run the en-
gineer saw a train approaching on the
same track. He Immediately whistled
for brakes, reversed his engine and
jumped to a place Of safety.
FELL ON HIS HEAD.
The members of the w~recking crew.
inrluding Foreman McGill, were in
the house car, and hearing the signal
for brakes they came out onto the
platforms. BY that time the two
trains were but a couple of hundred
yards alart, and realizing that n had
smash-up was inevitable, all the mem
beers of the crew jumped for their
lives. Mr.. McGill was the last man
to leave the train, and when he alight-
ed upon the ground he lost his balance
and pitched over on his heat, strising
the back of his skull either upon the
edee of a cross-tie or one of tie rails
The heavy impact crushed the base OF
the skull like an eegshell, and he was
picked up in an unconscious condition
and hurriedly bought to the hospital
here.
DR., Myers and DIR. Henslaw were
summoned, hut the wound was a nec-
essarily fatal one. and Mr.. McGill
died three hours afterward without
regaining consciousness. The surg, n
found the skull splintered on the back
and the brains were oozing from the
injured mans head in two or three
places. Nothing whatever for his re
lief could be dore.
Two other men, Charles Underdonk
and Harry Grove, both section men,
were hurt in jumping, the former
getting his face badly cut and the lat
ter being injured about the leg.
Neither is dangerously wounded The
two trains came together with consid-
erale force, and the old cars OF the
wreck train were reduced to kindiing
wood. No n on the other train was
injured. Just how this train came to
be on the siding occupied by the
wrecking tram has not been explained.
REMAINS TAKEN HOME.
The remsins OF Mr.. McGili' were
r. moved to the Wilan undertaking es-
rsi i,sis a.nt, whera they were pre-
pa feh and later removed 10 the dead
mans home on North Queen street.
The funeral touk place at s..
| .~Joseph's Catholic church on Wednes.
day morning at 8 O'Clock, the services
| being conducted by Rev Father Dona
hoe. Interment in ST. Joseph's Gem
| etery.
Mr.. McGill was one Of the olnesi
employees in point OF continuous ser
wise on the Baltimore and @ 10 on
this diSl iet. aud was a well-kgowr
and popular man. He beean his careel
with the railroad in 1870 as foreman
of the wreck trsin here. he was al
efficient man in that position. anC
held the confidence and regard of hi
superior officers. He was also popnlal
among his associates, and had a hos
OF friends amonR the railroad men an
other residents of this city.
He was aged 90 years, and is sur.
vigrd by his widow and the following
children
Frank. Thomas, Misses Lizzie. Anna
and Kittie, of MartinsbuIa; Robert,
of Chambersburg. and Harry, of Bal
timore. One brother and sister, Harry
A. McGill and Miss Ellen McGill,
reside in Boston.
Mr.. McGill was born in Cork, Ire.
land, bat removed to America while
= young man. He followed the sea fol-
several years. later removing to Mar.
tinsburg. where he resided ever since.
ANOTHER BAD WRECK.
The wreck on the Cheat river grade
OF the Baltimore and Ohio on Thurs.
day vas caused By a wild engine,
which got away with Engineer Por.
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