The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-01-05

Crushed beneath the wheels of an in
coming express train, Willard Fillmore
Martin. ffty-two years of age, OF 476 o
street northwest, Az agent for the Fl
deity Mutual Life Insurance Company
was instantly killed yesterday afternoon
while walking along the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad tracks near Langdon, D. c.
The body was removed 10 the morgue,
and it is probable that Coroner hewitt
will issue certificate of accidental death
some time this morning.
Martin was killed while returning from
a business errand TO the home Of a
prospective patron. who contemplated
buying a policy from the company by
which he was employed. He left his of
fee few minutes before noon yesterday
and went directly to the prospective Gus
toners house. which was located some
distance from the electric car station at
Lengdon.
Umbrella Prevented Vision.
Having transacted the business. Martin
started TO return 10 the station and be-
cause of the muddy condition of the roads
as the result of the heavy rainfall. made
his way to the railroad tracks which
afforded better walking. Martin was car
rying an umbrella at the time This he
was holding at his back and close to
his head, thus cutting off his vision and
preventing him from hearing the sound
OF the approaching train.
Because of the heavy rainfall and
mist, Engineer V. T. Green, who was run
ming the train, was unable TO see but a
short distance in front or the engine
Martin. he claims, was walking along the
track on which the train was running.
and was going in the same direction. The
man was walking quite slowly at the
time, and with his coat collar turned up
and his umbrella pulled down over his
head was attempting TO prevent getting
wet
When Green saw Martin on the track
but a short distance ahead of his engine
he grasped the whistle cord and did his
best to attract the mans attention.
Martin, however. apparently failed to
hear the sound, and continued his way
along the path Of the fast incoming ex-
press. The engineer. then applied the air
brakes and reversed the throttle in an
effort 10 check the speed of the train
Even when the train was almost upon
the man the blasts of the whistle ap-
parently failed 10 warn him Of his danger
Body Hurled from Track.
the speed of the train had been
10 any noticeable degree the
the engine crashed into Martin.
ms body. was hurled from the
anding in a ditch some distance
tide, When the train was finally
10 a stop, several hundred yards
down the track, members Of the
ang from the engine and coaches
tened 10 the side Of the mans
remains. Both arms were found
been broken, his skull crushed,
body and legs frightfully mutt
jdy was placed in the train and
into the terminal station in this
le police were notified about the
and the mOrgue wagon was hur-
he place. The body was removed
nOrgue, where il was afterward
by Joseph Martin, a brother of
ased. No arrangements have as
made for the burial
vas formerly employed in the
"a BUSINESS. in this city, but for the last
five years had occupied a position in the
local Office Of the life insurance company.
For some time Martin had been living at
4i6 street northwest. with his two
grown children The man had been sep
arated from mis- wife for a number of
years.