The Washington herald., 1911-01-09
OLD SOLDIER VICTIM
Inmate of Home Struck by
Fast B. & q. Train.
BODY Is BADLY MANGLED
Unrecognisable Remains of Elderly
Man Strewn Along Tracks from
to Be Those OF John Owfngs, Miss
ing Since Saturday Night.

Rushing along the baltlmOre anu oHio
tracks in q last burst of speed before
slowing up for Union Station. the fast
flying Chicago express struck an aged
inmate of Soldiers Home about 1870
o'clock yesterday morning. near La
mond Station, D. c., instantly killing
him, and mangling the body almost be-
yond recognition
The body was cut in three pieces. the
head falling near the tracks. snort
distance from the spot where the man
was struck The abdomen and legs were
caught under the engine, and carried
half a mile before falling between the
tracks. The upper part Of the body was
still on the engine when the train was
stopped at Stotts Station. a mile lrohi
the scene of the accident
1t is believed the aged soldier was
John Owings. sixty-five years old. who
has been missing from Soldiers Home
since supper time Saturday night In
mates at the home will call at the DIS
trict morgue at 11:50 o'clock this morn
ing to make an effort to verify the iden-
tification.
whistle Is Not Needed.
The accident occurred just as the pas
sensers on the train were preparing 10
leave the cars when they arrived at
Union Station. Train No. s. commonly
known as the Chicago Express" was
humming along at about sixty-mlle
gait when Engineer Hoffman saw sol
itary figure walking along the tracks far
ahead Hoffman pulled the whistle cord
and a long blast sounded and resounded
Tla fior1Y y,n look
around. and apparently had not hearo
the warning toot
Hoffman looked across at his fireman
and saw that he, too, was nerVously
watching the lone track walker. Botf
men believed the figure would step from
the track in a second or more. The en-
Eine rocked and swayed forward at grea'
speed, rapidly decreasing the distance
from the man, who walked unswervingly
along. Then Hoffman seized the whistle
rope and pulled frantically. filling the all
with long-drawn-out blasts, that coulo
be heard for a mile.
Still the track walker kept his course
undisturbed, while the engine hurtled on
ward A second passed. and wher
there was only hundred yards between
the engine and the man, Honman anc
his fireman closed their eyes Anothel
second passed. and when they looked
again the track was clear.
Hes gone shouted Hoffman to nj:
mate above the roar, and then his hand
PRESSED the throttle and threw on tht
brakes. The train gradually lessenee
speed and came to a StandStll at Stotls
station. Hoffman and Conductor G. 4
Kimmett alighted. They found a piece
of the body caught in the mechanism un,
Ger the engine. 1t was dlsentansleo ano
placed beside the track.
eli IN engine
and the train started on to Washington
before the passengers learned that al
aged mana veteran of the civil war
had been ground to death beneath th'
o. wheels. When the train stopped II
Union Station police of the Tenth pre-
cinct were notified and word was sent II
the morSue.
Find Bank Book I'm Clothing.
Assistant Morguemas ster Rumble drov'
to the scene of the accident about moor
and gathered the remains. The head haf
been severed as though cut with knife
and was marred only by few cuts an'
bruises The features were still recog
nizable Fragments of clothing streWl
along the tracks showed the man ha,
worn an old soldiers uniform, and as tn
tragedy occurred near Soldiers Home,
was believed the man had been an in
mate there.
The home authorities were notified @
the accident. and several inmates wer
sent to the morgue to identify the body
Inquiry also was made to learn if an
of the inmates were missing. 1t wa
learned that John Owing had not bee
seen since he ate supper Saturday even
mig
At the morgue the clothing of the sol
dier was searched. and a bank book is
sued by the Union Savings Bank an
bearing the name of John Owings wa
found The book showed Owings ha
about s.. 600 on deposit. In his pocket wa
also found S41. Friends of OwingS wi
visit the morgue this morning to corrot
crate the identification. 1t is probabl
that an inquest will be held.