The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-02-15
ACCIDENTAL DEATH
CORONER'S VERDICT
Driver of Fire Engine Hur-
led From Seat While An
Swering Alarm.

Coroner hewitt this morning gave a
certificate Of accidental death in the
ease OF William eaton. driver OF No.
IS fire engine company, who was 5OsIled
from his seat near Ninth street and
Potomac avenue southeast. and almost
instantly killed, while responding TO an
alarm last night
NeglectinE to fasten himself IN the
seat when he started out from the
engine house, eaton was hurled 20 the
street when the engine struck a rut IN
the road. landing on his head Wilson
oliver and Lee Hunt. who were on the
rear platform of the engine, heard the
driver scream, but did not witness the
accident, and had no knowledge that
anything Vas wrong until the engine
began swervIuE from one side Of the
read 10 the other
Cation Found Unconscious
Looking over the boiler, Hunt saw
the. vacant seat. Both men jumped from
The platform. While Hunt attempted
10 run I'd and grab the horses Oliver
went back 10 look after the driver
He found eaton lying in the roadway IN
al, unconscious condition A hurry can
was sent to the Casualty HoSp u Lut
eaton died before lhe aLLlFe- IA t--S
1-afoT's STILL was fractured, but the
e4Iyraous found no other marks or
bruises on his body, and II ls not
thought the wheels passed over hinl,
Nirf6 sf-tst and turnA into Potomac
street Hunt vas unable 10 stop Nlielil'
b7Ir -fIst as they crashed INTO lamp
street, H d BeeleT, a Capital Iractlon
conductor Tsn up and GRABBED Two OF
TIE horses before they broke away from
the wrecked engine
His First Accident.
Cation. who was dfty-ive years old,
lived at $40 Ninth street northeast He
Rad been in the fire department for
twenty-three =ears, had been driver OF
a number Of engine companies, and had
never had an accident before. de leaves
& wife and four children
The funeral viii be held Thursday
morning at % o'clock from the house,
after which services viii be held at
Holy Name Church Interment viii be
made In ut. OIivet Cemetery. Chief
Wagner this morning detailed sixty
men, under Battalion Chief Proctor, to
attend the funeral. and VIII transfer
men from other engine companies 50
that all the members Of No IS can at
tend the services
The alarm to which the engine COM
nany was responding was for q small
southeast The hose cart. with Captain
NrLdne and several fremeH. was in the
lead They put out the blaze with hand
C1lTi8EUishers, and did not learn Of the
ACCIDENT until they started back 10 ind
out what had delayed the engine
As q result of eaton 8 death Chief
Wagner announced several promotions
in the department this morning H I.
Neumayer- assistant driver, IS made
/ driver, and NJ J Berry is made as
siStant driver T. L GohISon. prfvz te
of class l. Is promoted 10 class , and
J s Scharper appointed a private OF
class J.
Tribute to Dead Man
In reporting the death Of Driver
Cation to Commissioner Johnston today,
Chief Wagner paid the following tri-
butte To the fireman.
During his twenty-five years OF ser
vice he so conducted himself as 40
merit the confidence and esteem OF
the department. and was considered
one Of the most efficient drivers in the
service An honest. Christian man, ana
"A good husband and father, mis- loss is
most deeply regretted
Commissioners Rudolph and Johnston
called at the home Of the family this
afternoon 10 personally express their
sympathy and regret