Allegheny County PA Archives- Obituaries: Schellenberger, Michael, 18 Dec 1898 Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Martha Little, , May 2010 Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/allegheny/ ________________________________________________ from The Pittsburgh Press dated Sunday, December 18, 1898 (page 4): SHOCKING ACCIDENT Michael SCHELLENBERGER of 4744 Laurel avenue, a boss laborer in the employ of the Pennsylvania railroad, was run down and killed by a passenger train near Ben Venue about 6 o'clock last night. His remains were taken to the morgue as an unknown and were identified at 10 o'clock by his son, Peter, who is employed at the Pennsylvania railroad round house, Twenty-eighth street, and taken charge of by him. The fatality is one of the most pathetic that has been chronicled in some time. It appears that the deceased had been in the employ of the company for 39 years, having entered its service only six years after it came into existence. He was promoted to various responsible positions and latterly, on account of his age, acted as boss laborer and engine caller. Among his associates he was well known under the sobriquet "Dutch Mike." Deceased seems to have left his employment a little earlier yesterday afternoon and went to his home at Ben Venue by the train which left union station at 5:30. When he got off at his destination, he wandered along the track, talking to this associates and then seems to have walked up the tracks past the station to his home on Laurel avenue. While doing so he was struck by the passenger train which leaves Ben Venue station at 5:58, a little way above the station. As soon as the engineer realized that his train had run down someone he pulled up and the trainmen gathered up the remains and brought them to Pittsburg. When picked up he was dead, having been killed instantaneously, both of his arms and legs being broken, and his head broken and crushed. The train then drew up at Ben Venue station, and all unaware of the death of his father, the son, Peter, got aboard and proceeded to his work. After leaving the station, the brakeman, a friend of the son, passed through the car and informed him that they had run down an elderly man and were conveying him to the city. Peter had no idea that it was his father that was killed and after traveling in the same train with his corpse proceeded to the power house. About 9:30 he was informed that his father had been killed and immediately went to the morgue, where he fully identified him. The deceased was 69 years and was a widower. About nine years ago he lost his wife, and since then he has been practically inconsolable. It was his custom to take long walks when the depressive moods were especially severe, but otherwise he hid his grief from everyone. He was specially fond of children, and they were as affectionate toward him. During his long service with the company he had acquired a competency and owned the house in which he lived. He is survived by his son and a married daughter, as well as by a host of friends and acquaintances. from the City of Pittsburgh Death Records: Michael SCHELLENBERGER, age 69 years, widower, engine hostler, died December 17, 1898, instantly killed on PRR; born in Germany; lived at 4744 Laurel Street; burial in St Mary's Cemetery on December 20, 1898.