NEWS: Items from the Altoona Tribune, November 8, 1879, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ ________________________________________________ Morning Tribune, Altoona, Saturday, November 8, 1879 KILLED IN A COLLISION. Freight Cars Hurled Over an Embankment at Kittanning Point - Life Lost in the Wreck. A terrible wreck of freight cars, attended with considerable loss of property and the killing of at least one man, occurred near the block office at Kittanning Point about half past 2 o'clock yesterday morning. The train was the one known as the third Union line, and was due at Altoona in the neighborhood of 1 A.M. The conductor of the train was Mr. Bernard Kearney. When it arrived at a point a little beyond Allegrippus, about seven miles west of this city, where an average down grade of ninety-six feet to the mile begins, the train parted, supposed to be caused by the breaking of a coupling. The first section continued on its way and the rear portion after running a short distance was stopped. The "red light" being "down" at the block office at the "point," conductor Kearney stopped the first section, entered the office and inquired what he was held for. He was informed that the train was broken, whereupon he went outside again for the purpose of requesting Engineer Ed. McConnell to move on with the front section, in order to get out of the way. The train had moved but a short distance when the rear section came thunder down the steep grade at the rate of more than a mile a minute and struck the forward cars with terrific force, about twenty cars comprising portions of both sections being hurled over the steep embankment into a deep ravine at the right side of the track, tearing up the rails and telegraph poles for a distance of two hundred feet and throwing the debris to great distances. The contents of the cars, consisting of meat, apples, malt, barley, oats and merchandise and produce generally were littered over the side of the hill in an indescribable mass and many of the cars were broken to pieces. Two brakemen, J. C. Cook and John A. McDowell, who were making their first trip over the road, were buried in the ruins. Now, then, as to the direct cause of the fearful collision: It seems that when the train separated and after it had been stopped the flagman, a man of experience, went back along the track to flag a train that was following and to warn it of danger. While the flagman was thus engaged it is asserted that Cook requested McDowell to "take off" a couple of brakes, and the latter, not comprehending what the consequences would be, complied. Then the cars almost immediately plunged forward, and the inexperienced brakemen were unable to check its swift momentum, and when the collision took place both were dashed over the embankment. The work of clearing away the wreck and of searching for the bodies of the men who were supposed to have been instantly killed, at once began. Cook was found about 11 o'clock yesterday morning under a car at the bottom of the ravine. He was terribly cut and injured and his back was supposed to be broken. He was afterward sent to his home at Ligonier, and it has since been reported that he is dead. Although it was said yesterday that the dead body of McDowell had been found at 3 o'clock in the afternoon the remains were not discovered until 11 o'clock last night. He was found jammed under a car about twenty feet down the side of the hill, in a sort of doubled-up sitting posture, with his hands crossed on his breast. The poor fellow's remains were brought to this city a little after 12 o'clock this morning in a cabin car and were removed to the rooms of Undertaker Tipton to be prepared for burial. The deceased has a cousin in this city, Barr McDowell, a boilermaker, who resides at No. 508 Twelfth street, according to the directory. His residence was at the village of St. Clair, in Westmoreland county, where he leaves a wife and four children. Workmen were engaged in clearing away the wreck all night, and it may be a day or two before the scene of the disaster will have its wonted appearance. Mr. Moore's Remains Sent to Wilkes-barre. During yesterday a telegraphic dispatch was received from Patrick McGowan, of Wilkesbarre, Pa., the relative of Patrick Moore, who was killed in the company's machine shop here on Thursday, directing that the body of the deceased be forwarded to Wilkes-barre for interment. The independent military company, the members of which had intended to do honor to the memory of their dead comrade by escorting the remains to the depot, did not have notice of the intended removal, and consequently did not act as an escort. The body was placed on the Atlantic express train last evening and forwarded via Bald Eagle valley road to its destination. STATE NOTES V. E. Piollets, Esq., Master, has issued an order calling the annual meeting of the State Grange, at Bloomsburg, on December 9. Mr. James McDermott, a compositor in the office of the Washington Reporter, cast his sixty-third annual ballot on Tuesday last. The shore of the Allegheny river in the vicinity of Sharpsburg, Allegheny county, is strewn with fish which have been killed by the refuse and oil flowing from refineries. The residence of Mr. J. B. Engle, farmer near Churchtown, Cumberland county, Tuesday afternoon was burglariously entered and $65 in money, clothing, etc., carried away. Henry Lynn, residing near Littlestown, Adams county, while endeavoring to extricate a pig that had become fast in the fence, was attacked by a number of hogs that had become enraged on account of the squealing of the pigs, and a number of gashes were torn in his parson, as well as some bones broken in one of his hands, and he would doubtless have been killed by the infuriated animals had not the women of the house driven them off by pouring scalding water over them, after having ineffectually tried to do so with clubs. NOTICE TO TRESPASSERS. - Notice is hereby given to all parties not to trespass on the lands or premises of the undersigned, citizens of Logan township, either by hunting, fishing or otherwise, as the law will be rigidly enforced against all persons who disregard this notice. The destruction of fences, growing crops, timber and like depredations impel us to this step. John Mulhollen, Mrs. Margaret Coleman, Hugh Dougherty, A. B. Smith, H. G. Gardner, W. Y. and Jno. A. Anderson, Nathanial Maurer, Jno. Coleman, Jacob Forsht, Wm. Louden, Jos. M. Hutchison, Robert W. Hutchison, Oliver Hagerty, Jonathan Hamilton, John E. Laird, Frederick Christman, John S. Calvert, John B. Robinson, D. M. Robinson, H. B. Carls, Thos. Coleman, Henry Warebaugh, Allen McGlathery, George Pottsgrove, Joseph H. Glasgow. Ticket Offices Robbed - The Thieves Captured. The ticket offices at Bigler station, Wallaceton, Blue Ball and Philipsburg, on the Tyrone and Clearfield road, were broken into on Tuesday night and robbed of railroad tickets and money. The freight warehouse at the former station was also robbed of tobacco, pipes, clothing and other articles. Captain Thomas E. Clarke, railroad policeman, with the assistance of Constable Gordon of Philipsburg, on Thursday got on the track of the burglars and succeeding in arresting Thomas Murray and James O'Neil, hailing from Elmira, New York. They confessed their participation in the robbery, and much of the stolen property was found in their possession. They were jailed at Clearfield. CITY AND COUNTRY. Things Briefly Told. Ex-Sheriff T. M. Hall, of Centre county, died at his home in Milesburg last Saturday of paralysis, aged 78 years. Mr. John Kennedy, Pennsylvania railroad night watchman, has been off duty for a few nights on account of the illness of a daughter. Hon. John E. Noble, member of the House of Representatives from Bedford county, and formerly a citizen of Bell's Mills, was in the city yesterday. The Newton Hamilton dam has been completed at a cost of about eight thousand dollars. Over one hundred men were employed, an average of about fifty or so daily. Rev. J. W. Evans has accepted the pastorate of the Tyrone Baptist Church in connection with the Philipsburg charge, and will preach in the former place Sunday. Mr. Thomas C. Snyder, of Martinsburg, who wrote several interesting letters for the Tribune from Creste Butte, Colorado, arrived in this city yesterday en route to the former place. The next annual session of the Central Pennsylvania Conference will be held in this city March 10, 1880. It will be presided over by the somewhat celebrated Bishop Gil. Haven. Isaac Crawford, the once prosperous proprietor of the Crawford House in Ebensburg, on Tuesday last wended his way "over the hill to the poor house," there to be maintained by the county. An old lady named Mrs. Rosanna Hamilton, residing on Carroll street, Pittsburgh, who was recently defrauded out of $1,200 by a lawyer named S. B. W. Gill, committed suicide on Wednesday morning by hanging herself. Miss Kate Brubaker was hit in the eye with a snowball Thursday morning, on Thirteenth avenue, between Eleventh and Twelfth streets. The throwing of these missiles in the streets should be prohibited, for often the wrong parties are struck. A daughter of Dr. Hostetter, of Pittsburgh, the great oil and bitters millionaire, was married Thursday evening. The bridal party, consisting of twenty-five persons, occupied a special car attached to day express yesterday on an eastern tour. H. H. Fisher, Esq., of Pattonville, Bedford county, had his right hand caught in some machinery which he was repairing at Steel's mills, in Hopewell township, and had it very badly crushed. The little finger was entirely severed at the middle joint. Rev. M. N. Cornelius, of the First Presbyterian Church, went down to Mifflin yesterday afternoon to assist Rev. Mr. Sherrard in the dedication of the new Presbyterian Church and in communion services. Rev. Dr. Wilson will fill Mr. Cornelius' pulpit on Sunday. The paper mill of Messrs. Morrison, Bare & Cass, at Roaring Springs, was compelled, for want of coal, to make a brief temporary suspension on Thursday evening. It takes about two car loads of coal a day to run their steam power, which they have been unable to get transportated [sic] with a regularity consistent with their demands. The amount of coal transported over the Tyrone and Clearfield road for the week ending November 1 was 41,546 tons, an increase of 19,104 tons over the same time last year. The total amount shipped for the year is 1,830,728 tons, an increase of 234,663 tons over the same time in 1878. Besides the coal traffic there were 136 cars of lumber and 130 cars of miscellaneous freight passed over the road for the week ending November 1. Resuming the Sale of the Lloyd Properties. Messrs. W. A. Stone and Edmund Shaw, United States Commissioners appointed to take testimony in the case of the assignees of the Lloyd estate against the First National Bank of Altoona, have been hearing evidence for several days this week, and last evening adjourned the hearing until next Wednesday morning. The adjourned sale of the Lloyd properties will being at 10 o'clock on Monday morning, and as heretofore great bargains will be offered. . . . THE DANNALS HOUSE ROBBERY. Constable Wright, who had set his trap for the capture of the man William Ellis, who is charged with the wholesale robbery of the Dannals House on Wednesday night last, failed to take his game. The probabilities are the bold thief has made good his escape. We are informed the credit is due to Mrs. Ellis for the recovery of the stolen goods. The lady had but recently married Ellis and on the morning of the robbery went and informed Mrs. Dannals where the stolen articles were secreted and conducted parties to the house to identify the goods. POOR HOUSE ITEMS. The regular monthly business meeting of the Board of Poor Directors were [sic] held at the almshouse on Wednesday. Twenty-seven applications for outdoor relief was [sic] presented asking relief - only one of which was rejected. One applicant who had many responsibilities got an order for ^ worth of provisions; the next two most needy received each $5; eight got $4; six got $3; three got $2.50, and the remaining six got but $2 each, making a total of $85.50. Warrants or orders on the County Treasurer were authorized to be drawn to cover expenses incurred amounting to $531.61, viz: Outdoor relief, $205.60; farm expenses, $38.50; clothing, $38.60; coal, $6.66; beef, $47.79; drugs, $18.30; shoes, etc., $1987; groceries $34.84; hardware, $5.95; Constable and Justices fees, $18.50 physicians, $56.50. The attendance of visitors was less than at any regular directors' day for six years - only one visitor interviewed the sumptuous table, and he was not very hungry, having his breakfast before leaving home. The only change noticed was on the outside. The beautiful flower garden was faded and gone, but many of its treasures have been transferred to the inmates' rooms.