The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-12
|W|CKL|FFE MEETS | DEATH UNDER TRAIN Louisiana Representative Is Killed in Washington HAD BEEN FISHING Mrs. Wickliffe Was Watching House When News Was Broken to Her.
 She Fainted-Was Native
 kentuckiar
HAD BEEN FISHING

| Washington, June 11.-Representative Robert C. Wickiffe of Louisiana was run down on the tracks of the Southern rail way in Potomac park this morning and instantly killed He had left the capitol yesterday to be away today on fishing trip.
 | How he happened to stray onto the rail- road tracks was not made clear. The engi- neer of the train said that he saw the congressman too late to avoid the acci- dent. News of the tragic death of the prominent southern representative trav- eled fast. It did not reach Mrs. Wick life, however, before she had started for the capitol as was her daily custom to ob- serve the proceedings in the lower house, That body was about to adjourn out of respect for the memory of MT Wickliffe when several members happened to catch glimpse of his wife in the gallery. There was hurried conference arranged. Representatives Estopinal of Louisiana and Cullop of Indiana made their way quietly to where Mrs. Wickiiffe was sit ting They invited her downstairs to Speaker Clark's office There as gently as they could they broke the news to her.
 Mrs. Wickliffe Painted l Mrs Wickliffe tainted.
 | Later she cried to be taken home. Mrs. Champ Clark, a close friend. was quick lily summoned. Immediately after she was seen to leave the gallery the House ad- journed until tomorrow al II a. m Memo rial services will be held later In the ses- sion.
 | Mrs Wickliffe was one of the promoters | of the recent Dolly Madison breakfast ! ceremony in this city. She has been ac- tive among the democratic women of the capital Before her marriage she was Miss Lydia W. Cooke of Louisville, Ky 1 Mir. wickline was alone when killed He was paired yesterday with Repre- sentative Dupre of Louisiana for toda, and jocularly explained to the pair clerk q am going on fishing voyage"
 The accident happened on a railroad embankment at the north end of the rail. l road bridge over the Potomac river. just at the entrance to the Potomac park which borders the river in the southwest section of this city.
 Ignored Sign
 
 Despite a sign at that point warning against trespassing on the railroad property there wiekline was seen tc climb the elevation apparently uncon | scious of an oncoming train to view | the picture before him. He was struck and killed A deep gash was on the forehead and the body was badly cruched Mir Wickliffe's watch had stopped at 9.23 a. m. His body was laid on the green near the track an subsequently, taken to a morgue Word of the accident reached the House as i it was converting. Speaker Clark and many other members, made inquiries Mrs. Wicklifre was then notified. Her husband was a democrat, and once a | member of the monetary commission Members of. the body were at loss how to account for the accident He vas a son of Robert c. WickliYe al one time governor of Kentucky and his 7, grandfather served as Postmaster Sen ! eral in the cabinet of President Polk.
 Was Native Kentuckian Congressman wfckliffe was native Kentuckian. He was born in Bards- l town on May l. 1874, while his parents | V ho lived at St. Francisville. in West | Feliciana parish. Louisiana, were on q visit to Kentucky.
 MT. Wickliffe was member of the l Sixty first and Sixty-second Congresses having been elected from the Sixth dis 1 trict of Louisiana in 1908. MT Wick lime bad been in public life in Louis 1
 tContinued on Page Eleven)