Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1912-08-23
KILLED WHILE
SAVING SON.
Rev. Samuel Gill Run Down By
Train at Harper's Ferry.

REV. Samuel Gill Run Down B,
Train at Harper's Ferry.
| While endeavoring to save the lift
of his young son, who had fallen IL
front of q swiftly moving train, Rev
Samuel G. Gill, . Presbyterian minis
ter OF Monticello, Illinois, was struck
by westbound passenger train No.
on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
at HarIers Ferry last Friday night
and sustained injuries from which be
died several hours later in Winches.
ter Memorial Hospital where he was
brought by train Immediately after
the accident.
Accompanied by his eight-year-Old
son, Harold Gill, the minister had
been on vacation and had been visit.
ing his parents, Mr.. and Mrs. William
Gill, At Woodstock. Last Friday At
ternoop Esther and son took the north
bound trsin for Hsrpers Ferry, Ia
tending to 60 to Somerset, Ohio, his
former home where Mr.. Gill was to
officiate ct q wedding Of couple CT
his former Pensioners on Tuesday.
At Harpers Ferry they waited sew
eral minutes for the westbound train
and when it whistled for the station
Mr.. Gill and son started TO cross the
track to the platform on the opposite
side of the station.
The Elder Gill was in front carrying
q suit case while the little fellow fol-
lowed along in the rear. In attempt
ing to cross the eastbound track young
Gill stumbled and fell and was In inn
minent danger Of being run over by
the rapidly approaching train.
The father reached out and thrust
his son out OF harms way but the next
instant the train was upon him and he
was run over. His body was struck
and thrown clear Of the track but his
left foot was crushed off and the skull
split open for ten inches while his jaw
was fractured and he received other
cuts and bruises.
A number of bystanders too horror.
stricken to utter a word. had been
witnesses of the tragedy and the only
sound uttered was cry OF warning
from his own boy which, however,
came too late.
Mr.. Gill was unsouscious when pick
ed up and never regained conscious
ness until death interviewed.
In the meantime number OF physi-
clans Of Harpers Ferry were summon
ed and administered first aid but the
minister vas seen to be dying even
then. He was made - comfortable as
possible and 1t was decided to bring
him to Winchester in the hope of saw
Ing his life.
The injured man was accordingly
placed on the Winchester train which
reached Winchester about 9 O'Clock
and was taken to the hospital.
He was accompanied by DR.. ]. II.
Hodges and at the hospital an ex-
animation was made by Doctors
W. s. Love, W. A. Bell, W. P.
MCGUIRE and Stewart.
Mr.. Gill was then in such hope
less condition than an operation was
deemed inadvisabie and shortly after
IL O'Clock last Friday night he passed
away without regaining conscious
ness.
The young son, ignorant of the
condition of his father, was taken In
charge by Conductor Lewis Barley
OF the train which brought the in.
jured man to Winchester and the lad
remained with Mrs. Barley until Sat-
urdsy receiving the utmost care and
attention. Late saturday the inteli.
gence that his father was dead was
tenderly conveyed to the lad by Mrs.
Barley and by Rev. J. q. Lacey, D.
D., pastor of the Presbyterin Church
of Winchester.
A Masonic pin which the dead man
wors 10 lapel of his coat identified
him as q member of that order and
the local Masons we're busily engaged
in endea voring to get into communi-
Ication with the relatives of the de.
Leased. About O'Clock Saturday
the parents of Mr.. Gill arrived from
Woodstock.
Mr.. Gill was . native of Wood
stock where he was born about A
y ears ago. He was q son of Mr.. and
Mrs. William Gill. After receiving
his degree at Franklin and Marshall
College he entered the Reformed mia.
istry, going to Ohio. About a year
ago he went to Monticello, ILL.,, were
he became pastor Of the Presbyterian
church, and was most highly thought
Iof.
Members OF the Masonic order in
formed Mrs. Gill OF her husband g
tragic death by telegraph. His wife
was formerly Miss Kate Ashway Of
IOhio. He leaves three children, the
eldest twelve, the next ten years, and
Harold, who accompanied him on thu
fatal trip, being eight years; his par
tents. Mr.. and Mrs. William Gill, Of
this place; one sister, Mrs. Ella K
Scott. OF Williamsburg, Pa, and fv'
brothers, Chas. B. Gill, John W.
Gill, Harry L. Gill, James L. Gil
and Arthur II. Gill, OF Pittsbure an,
vicinity.
To thu AGED pxrants the death Ut tn