OBIT: Joseph TRONE, 1901, New Oxford, Adams County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/adams/ _______________________________________________ CRUSHED TO DEATH. Fatal Accident Befalls Joseph Trone at Gettysburg. Mr. Joseph Trone, of West High street, who for the past year has been employed as a brakeman on the Western Maryland Railroad, met an untimely death at 8:15 o'clock Saturday evening while coupling cars at Gettysburg. Mr. Trone was working on extra freight No. 53, H. E. Ford, conductor and George Reed engineer. Trone signaled the engineer to come back in order to make a coupling, but for some reason the coupler failed to work. He then signaled to go ahead, and when the engineer responded Trone attempted to pass to the opposite side of the track for the purpose of making the coupling from that side, when the front and rear ends of the train drifted together, pinning him between the couplers and crushing out his life. Conductor Ford, who was a short distance away, heard Trone's lantern drop to the ground and ran to his assistance. He signaled the engineer to go ahead, when he caught Trone and carried him to the side of the track, where he laid him on the ground and immediately sent for Dr. Henry Stewart, who arrived shortly after and pronounced the man dead. Dr. Stewart, who is also coroner of Adams county, held an inquest over the body. The decision of the jury was that death was accidental, and the railroad company was exonerated from all blame. The remains of the unfortunate man was brought to his late home in this place at 1:30 o'clock Sunday morning. Deceased was a son of the late John B. Trone, of Smith's Station, York county, and was about 30 years old. About twelve years ago he was married to Miss Mary Jane Zartman, daughter of John K. Zartman and wife, of Hanover. For the past ten years they resided in New Oxford. For some years he was an assistant section foreman on the Western Maryland Railroad here, and for the past year had been employed as a brakeman, his regular run being between Hanover and Emory Grove. He is survived by a widow and five children, Melvin, John, Irvin, Mae and Beulah. Deceased was a member of the Trainmen's Beneficial Association and of Comp No. 22 P.O.S. of A., of this place. The funeral was held at 9 o'clock Monday morning at the house, where short services were held, after which the remains and funeral cortege were taken to Hanover on the 9:06 train and proceeded to Mt. Olivet cemetery, where interment was made. Rev. J. H. Hartman conducted the services. After interment the cortege returned to the home of John Zartman, his father-in- law, where further services were held. Washington Camp, No. 22, P.O.S. of A., of this place, attended in a body. The pall-bearers selected from the Camp were William Ditzler, Elsworth Byer, Robert Straley, Wallace Coleman, Harry Stambaugh and C. M. Deatrich. Mr. Trone was a quiet and industrious gentleman, a good citizen, and a kind and loving husband and father, a friend to everybody. The bereaved family have the heartfelt sympathy of the entire community in their most sad affliction. New Oxford Item, New Oxford, PA, August 23, 1901