Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-15

/ VI S.AlONs
William Cation, driver of the horses
| drawing No. IS engine, was thrown last
might from his engine while responding
| to an alarm of fire and killed. The
| accident happened on 9th street south
| east near Potomac avenue.
Response was being made to a call re.
ceived from 1909 LIST street southeast, the
| home of Laura Bell, colored. where there
| was a slight blaze. Driver Cation, who
| was regarded as one of the best reins
| in the department. was thrown from his
| seat when the wheels of hiS engine
| struck a rut in the dirt roadway, plung-
ing forward and striking his head with
| force sufficient to crush his skull.
Lee Hunt, engineer, and Wilson Oliver
| fireman, were on the engine at the
time. They felt the Earring of the ma
chino when the rut was reached, and
one of them heard Cation make an out
cry, although he was not seen to fall.
Presently the horses turned west into Po-
tomac avenue, and their unsteady gait
convinced the two men that there was
something wrong.
Vacant Seat Discovered.
Cations out of his seat" shouted En-
gineer Hunt when he looked over the
engine and saw the seat was vacant.
The engineer looked back and saw the
driver lying on the street. He told Oliver
to look after Cation, while he jumped
from the moving engine and ran to stop
the runaway horses. The animals soon
reached q point near the main entrance
to the navy yard and went upon A pile
of railroad material after demolishing a
lamp post
II. d. Beeler, conductor on the Capital
Traction line, was standing near the car
barn and saw the three horses moving
toward him at a furious pace. lie ran
across the street to head them off and
reached them just about the time they
went upon the pile of material Beeler
held the horses until Engineer Hunt ar
rived and turned them over to him.
Hurried to the Hospital.
toms assistance. He found the latter
was in a helpless condition and he re-
manned with him until the arrival of the
Casualty Hospital ambulance. The I'M
conscious form of the driver was lifted
into the ambulance and the vehicle was
hurried to the hospital. but he died be-
fore the hospital was reached.
Thomas D. McLane, captain of No. is
company, FASTENED to the scene of the
| accident from the fire as soon as he
learned of what had occurred. Later he
went to the Casualty Hospital. Chief
Wagner also went to the hospital and
was shocked at finding the driver dead.
Fire department officials later went to
the home of the Cation family, go 9th
street northeast, and informed Mrs Cation
of the accident.
Coroner hewitt viewed the body at the
hospital learned of the circumstances
under which the accident happened and
GOV mi C al fnf fhn 90 hA
body to the undertaking establishment
of T. A. Costello & Bro. IL II street
northeast. This morning the body was
taken to the family home.
Funeral Thursday.
Chief Wagner today issued an order de-
failing sixty members of the department
to attend the funeral. which will take
place Thursday morning at o'clock from
Holy Name Church. The interment will
be at Mount Olivet cemetery. It is the
intention to have all the members of No
1S company attend the funeral, and l.. Is
probable that the pallbearers will be Sc
lected from that company.
Seat Strap Not Used.
Driver Cation was not strapped to his
seat at the time the accident happened.
and the accident raises the question OF
the advisability Of having drivers strap
ped to their seats while responding to
alarms There is no rule of the depart
| ment bearing upon the question. and
Chief Wagner says he is doubtful if such
| a rule would be a good thing for the
drivers. He is able to recall accidents un-
der both conditions. August IS, 1882
Joseph Daniels, a driver, was killed at
| New Jersey avenue and c streets. He
| was strapped to his seat. About -four
years ago Robert Cook, also driver, was
| similarly killed.
Had these men not been strapped
said Chief Wagner this morning. they
may have saved their lives by jumping y
Native of Georgetown.
| Driver Cation was native of George
town, having been born in 1856. He was
appointed a member of the fire depart
| ment February /, 1SSS, and was promoted
| to driver October 20, 1905. Chief Wagner
regarded him one of the most efficient
drivers in the department. He was twice
married and leaves a wife and four chill
dren. the oldest being twenty-one and the
youngest five years Of age.
Department Promotions.
The vacancy caused by the death of
Driver Cation will be filled by the promo
| ton of II. l.. Neumayer, an assistant
| driver. Nj. J. Berry is to succeed Neu-
mayer and r.. L. Gholson is to be pro-
| NOTED from class to class , ]. $.
Scharper is to be appointed member
| of the department to fill the vacancy.
Chief Engineer Wagner's Report.
Chief Engineer Wagner has informed
Commissioner Johnston of Driver Cations
death, through the following letter:
Sir:
1t is with deep regret that | have to
report to you the death of Driver William
| Cation o. this department
while responding to an alarm of fire
from PREMISES No. 1909 LIST street south