The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-11-30

j. Ed. Watson, a well-known rail-
road engineer and prominent citizen.
met tragic death yesterday morning
by being run over by an East Hill
street car as he was walking along
the track looking at the sewer work
which is being done on East Wright
street, between Guillemarde and Tar
ragona streets. The accident occurred
at 11:15 and Mr.. Watson, who was
rushed to the Pensacola Sanitarium
and given all the medical attention
possible, passed away at 1880 p. m.
In addition to a broken leg, the un-
fortunate man sustained internal in
juries and suffered intensely before
death.
Occurring as it did in the middle
OF the day, number of people were
on the streets and there were several
eye witnesses to the tragedy. Fourteen
have been summoned to appear before
the coroner's jury which meets this
afternoon to conduct an investigation
of the matter.
THE MEN ARRESTED.
Both the motorman and the conduc-
tor in charge Of the car were arrested
and taken to the police station, where
they were held until last night. when
they made bond in the sum of $500
each. The car was In charge of Con-
ductor S. ]. Ponton and Motorman
Frank IT. Brewton
When seen by a representative Of
The Journal yesterday afternoon, Mo-
torman Brewton expressed regret at
the unfortunate occurrence, as did
Conductor Ponton, but both of them
declared that the accident was abso-
lutely unavoidable and unexpected
Speaking of the matter, the motor
man said: Il saw the man walking
Of ha 1tRut m ~
side of the track when we were about
two or three lengths of the car away.
We We're going east at the time and
Mr.. Watson was also going east, and.
of course, had his back turned to the
car. began sounding the gong. Wa
were running slowly anyrse8 ssn 7e-
count of the sewer work close 10 sis
car tracks, and as he was on the side
of the track. never thought cf sirik-
ing him. He had his head turned
slightly toward the street away from
the track and I thought he was soing
to walk across the street. In fact
when we got closer 1t appeared 10 me
that he stepped in that direction and
the instant that / saw he did not /
applied the brakes, but Just as did, to
my horror, he stepped directly in front
of the car. and, although made a des-
perate eff~-t, l could not stop the car
and then We struck him"
Conductor Ponton corroborated the
statement of the motorrnan as to the
gong ringing and the effort to stop
the car, although he said he did not
see the man until the car was almost
upon him, in fact. just as it struck
him.
BODY WAS CRUSHED.
When Mr.. Watson was knocked
down his body fell partly beneath the
car. so that it was with difficulty that
he was extricated and badly crushed.
In fact, according to some Of the wit
nesses to the accident, it was neces-
sary to jack the front end of the car
up in order to get him from beneath
1t. He was conscious, however, when
removed
ESCAPED MANY WRECKS.
Mr. Watson, who was one of the
best known and most popular railroad
men in this city, had been in the en-
ploy of the L. & N. railroad as an
engineer for thirty years, and during
that time, is said TO have been In no
less than fifteen serious wrecks, yet
escaped them all without any serious
injury to meet death by means of a
street car.
The deceased had resided in Pensa-
cole for many years and was we'll
known and highly esteemed, both
among the railorad fraternity and
among the people Of the city gen.
orally. He was a Mason, being a
member Of the grand lodge, and was
also a member of other fraternal or
ganizations, in all Of which he ranked
high.
Mr.. Watson was fifty-three years OF
age and is survived by a wife and six
children, three sons and three daugh-
ters.
He was formerly an alderman and
the flags on the municipal buildings
were lowered to half mast as soon as
the news of his death was received.
CoRoNER'S INQUEST TODAY.
Immediately after being notified Of
the accident, Coroner Nicholson en-
paneled a jury and viewed the re-
mains and the scene Of the tragedy.
after which the jury adjourned until 3
o'clock this afternoon, when the in
quest will be continued in the offlca
OF the coroner.
The jury is composed Of the follow
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