Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-03-24
BATTLE ON A TRAIN.

tuIcc DCbI oOiNAiSb 'NS S~~ "~N
ed sll the trouble, were killed, two were
seriously Injured and Others were grazed
by bal lels.
The dead are J. Il. Btthes, 40 years
old. of Dillon, S. O.; o. E. Wellman,
40 years old, of Philadelphia, conductor
of the train; Samuel Wiiiisms, so years
told, coloTed Pullman porter OF Washing
TOD.
The ipinred are: John ). Wiley, q
Wilmington Park eusrd, 40 years old,
shot In the groiu and hand and Matthew
Haley, q citizen, shot in the leg.
The tragedy was 40 outcome OF 8
quarrel bttFeen BstheS, passenger
who boarded the ain at Washington,
and Williams, the potter, In the buffet
smoking car Mercury. Bsthss, who had
been drinking, shot the porter through
the heart, killing him instantly. Con.
6uctor Wellmsn heard the shot, sud, rur-
ming back demonstrated With the psssen.
ger who still held the pistol 10 his hand.
Although the negro was dead, Bethes fred
a second shot, the bullet entering the
victims stomach. Then, without 8
word, be turned and shot Wellmsp, who
fell dead. The bullet had passed through
his right srm, which be had thrown up
to protect himself, and into his
heart.
The passengers in mad rush to safety
ran back into the car In the rear, while
Bethea rushed into compartment oj
the car, bsrricsded himself In and
threatened to kill the first person who
approached.
By this time the train reached the
station ct Wilmington at 5.l7 O'Clock
and hurry call wss sent to the police
station. Police Captains Kane and Evans
Sergeant Kelleher and squad OF ps-
trOlmen, reinforced by PARK gusrds
and posse of traiDmen aud ciilzans,
rushed TO the scene. Btthea wac called
upon to surrender, but he only opened
the door of bis fortress far enough to
poke az automatic revolver through the
chink and begin 10 FIRE. Chief of Police
Black, who had also reached the scene OF
hOstillies, lodged just as bullet whlz.
zad by bis head.
The South Carolina man must have
had at least 100 cartridges, for he held
the posse OF fseveral hundred men at bay
and also held up the train from 5.17
O'Clock until 6.35, snd travel over the
road was stopped. Every now and then
the police opened fire at the car until all
Of the windows we're rIddIed.
After an hour the police saw they
would be unable ID drive the man from
cover, aud q call was sent to the Water
Witch Fire Company, near BY, for it,
engine. The apparatus responded on
the rue. A high pressure hone was g.
tached to water plug, aud, with the
iremen behind q bsIricsde of boards and
trucks, stream was played upon the
windoS OF the compartment In which
Bethea was.
Belhea fired fu'illade at the iremen,
the police all the while calling npou him
to surrender. Ia a few minutes, dreuch-
cd with water, he staggered to the plat.
form, and again the police shouted to
him to hold up his hands. Without
word aud With air Of braVsdo, be
leveled bis automatic revolver at the
police aud several shots rang out In quick
succession.
Just IS he fred the last shot Police
Captain Evans, who had secured a shit
gan, fred. A load of shot struck the
murderer In the face, but still be con-
tinued to blszs away. Psttolmsn B ugh.
ton then fired with pistol, and the
bullet struck Bethes Ia the right arm.
He tried to fire sgsiD, but Sergeant Kel.
leher fred and OF the same time sprspg
upon the man. Several other policemen
started to shoot, but the crowd yelled
"Don't kill him 7" The shotgun and
the tullCti from the poicemen's revol-
vers had already done their work, how
ever, for iast IS Bsthea Tss taken hold
of by the police be fell dead into the
arms OF one Of them.
The bodies OF the conductor, porter
aud double murderer were sent to the
morgue. The car was switched of and
the remsinder Of the trsiu proceeded to
Philadelphia and New York.
When Williams, the porter, was shot
be fell into a seat, and the body, with
the appearance OF one looking cut OF the
window, was plainly seen IS the battle
ragged.