The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-11-21
AGED MANLOSES
LIFE UNDER The
WHEELS OF CAR
r. A. STAPLES, CONFEDERATE
SOLDIER AND WELL-kNoWN
THROUGHOUT CITY AND coUN-
TY, VICTIM TO HORRIBLE Ac-
cIDENT.

r. A. Staples, aged about IS years,
a widely-known citizen, both in city
and county, and a Confederate vet
eran, lost his life in most horrible
manner yesterday when, struck by an
approaching freight car, he was
knocked down and the wheels of the
car passed over his body, crushing the
frai form in horrible manner and
causing such injuries that he died
before a conveyance could reach the
scene and hurry him to the sani-
tarium.
The accident occurred on North
Tarragona street, and at the point
where the spur track branches of
from the Tarragona line to lead to the
freight depot. 1t was not thought
that the railway men We're crimlnally
responsible, for the coroner, after
making an inquiry, absolved the train
crew from blame The engine was
number 502, and Engineer George S.
Walker was at the throttle. Sydney
Greenwood was foreman of the crew.
These two, as well as the others
working on the engine at the time,
were interviewed by the coroner, and
a certificate will be issued, reciting
that the death of Mr.. Staples was ac-
cidenta1.
The accident occurred at 1920
o'clock, and within ten minutes the
aged Confederate veteran had passed
away.
Various stories were circulated as
to the manner of his death, but 1t
appears that Mr.. Staples was walking
south on Tarragona street and started
to go across the branch track, fol-
Il Ell
He had an artffci leg. and walked
with some difficulty. His hearing was
also said to have been imperfect. It
was related by trainmen that one
of the men on the rear end of the
oncoming train yelled at him and at
tracted his attention when too late,
for, after stepping on the track, he
started to retrace his steps, and it was
then that coupling of the car struck
and knocked him to /the groud- For
several feet the frail body was howled
along until the car. which had then
left the track, was brought to a stop.
A number of people. attracted by the
cornrnotion which naturally followed.
ran up and dragged the dying man
from the rails. At once a telephone
message was sent for physicians and
an ambulance. but he was soon past
human aid, and the remains were then
taken'A by direction of the coroner, to
the undertaking parlors of T. r. Pou,
where it was prepared for burial.
A number of relatives who are out
of town were informed by wire Of
the old gentleman's death, and some
of them will be here in time for the
funeral which will take place Sunday
at Roberts cemetery, the remains 20
leave here on the noon train, with an
escort of Confederate veterans. His
relatives who were out of the city
were: Manuel Staples, his son, OF
FIorala; L. NJ. Wilkinson, a son-in-
law, of Jacksonville; Mrs. Lille Starr,
of Grapevine, Texas, a daughter; r.
c. Staples. a grandson, of Birming-
ham, Ala; Mrs. R. E. Foster, Of
GreenviIIe, Ala, daughter. With MIN
In Pensacola were his aged wife, and
daughter Miss Matte Staples. They
lived with him across Bayou Texar,
whence the funeral cortege will leave
for the depot Sunday morning at an
hour to be later determined