OBIT: David CASSIDAY, 1899, Altoona, Blair County, PA

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INSTANTLY KILLED.
A Fatal Wreck at Eighth Street Yesterday Evening.
David Cassiday The Victim
He Was an Employe of the Juniata Shops and Was Coming Home from Work on 
a Freight Train at the Time
EIGHT CARS WERE BROKEN UP

  About 9 o'clock last night David Cassiday, a machinist in the Juniata 
shops was killed probably instantly in a freight wreck that occurred in 
the Pennsylvania railroad yard below Ninth street.  The body was almost 
cut in two below the chest, the skin being all that held the parts 
together.  The unfortunate man worked over time yesterday and --- the 
shops at Juniata by himself.  He resides at 924 Eighth avenue and it is 
appeared that he wanted to get home as quickly as possible, and 
happening to --- a freight train going west he boarded it.  The other 
workmen with him left on a street car and he evidently thought he would 
save time and in truth he would had there been no accident, for by the 
time the trolley car reached the --- he could have been at home.
  The train on which he rode was composed principally of Canadian 
Northern railway flat cars, formerly of the gondola type but lately 
converted by having the --- removed.  He was sitting on one of the cars 
and the train had arrived within a few feet of his destination when in 
some manner one of the flat cars came in contact with a train of 
heavily laden --- cars passing eastward on the next track.  It is not 
yet known whether a --- left the track or the platform of the car 
shifted off the truck.  Neither was moving rapidly but the heavy --- 
train after striking the lighter car --- it and piled up five others in 
the wreck that followed.  Two of the --- cars were turned around 
sidewise across the tracks and some were piled on top of others.  Mr. 
Cassidy had evidently been on one of the cars that was -- ended and 
fell off on the tracks.  At least one truck passed over his body.
  He was dead when discovered under one of the cars that had not left 
the tracks.  His body was placed on an engine and brought to the depot, 
where it was placed in charge of Undertaker Lafferty, who conveyed it 
to his rooms on Chestnut avenue.  The remains were --- last night and 
were viewed by Coroner McCartney, who is investigating the case.  He 
has not yet decided whether or not an inquest will be necessary.  The 
body will probably be released to the home of the deceased at 924 
Eighth avenue this morning.
  In the dead man's pockets were found $8.24? and a new book of 
commutation street car tickets.  Forty-five cents in change was picked 
up near the Eighth avenue switch where he met his death.  His hat was 
found on the tracks after the rear part of the train had been pulled 
away.
  The wrecking crew was put to work immediately and in a short time had 
cleared away the debris.  The rains were --- displaced, but some of the 
ties were damaged.
  David Cassiday was born November --- 1864? in Altoona, and has lived 
in the city most of his life.  He was enlisted as a member of company 
C, Fifth Regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, at --- Gretna, May 9, 1898.  
He went with the regiment to Camp Thomas and upon returning home was 
mustered out at Hollidaysburg November ---, 1898.  There was not a more 
faithful soldier in the regiment than the deceased.  He was ever 
trustworthy and --- in his duties.  --- the members of his company he -
-- the best of terms, and he enjoyed the trust and confidence of his 
officers.  Less than a month ago, July 11, 1899, he was married to Miss 
May Keeley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Keeley, of 924 Eighth avenue.  
After a wedding trip he returned to this city and --- the home of his 
father-in-law.  His bride of three weeks was almost --- by the sad 
announcement of his sudden and unexpected death.  His aged mother was 
also severely shocked by the sad intelligence.  His father, who is an 
engineer on the Pennsylvania railroad, was out on his engine at the 
time of the accident and did not return home until several hours 
afterward.
  Besides his father and mother, David and Annie Cassiday, of 1719 
Fifth avenue, he is survived by three brothers - Thomas, an engineer, 
residing at Scottdale?, Bernard, a Passionist, at Dunkirk, ---, and 
John, at home, and by two sisters, Katie and Ellie, at home.  He was 
formerly a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic church , but after his 
marriage transferred his membership to St. ---'s, where his wife 
belonged.  He was a member of the Young Men's Institute and of the 
Ancient Order of Hibernians.  The funeral arrangements will be 
announced later.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Wednesday, August 9, 1899

FUNERAL OF DAVID CASSIDAY.
Field and Staff of Fifth Regiment and Company C Will Attend.

  The funeral of the late David Cassiday will take place to-morrow 
morning.  The cortege will leave the home of the deceased, 1719 Fifth 
avenue, at 8.30 o'clock and proceed to Sacred Heart church where 
requiem mass will be celebrated.  The interment will be made in St. 
John's cemetery.
  The members of the field and staff of the Fifth regiment, 
Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, will meet at Major A. S. Stayer's 
office, Fifteenth street and Seventh avenue, to-morrow morning at 8 
o'clock to attend the funeral of the late David Cassiday.  The 
regulation uniform of the volunteer service will be worn, including 
fatigue blouses, hats and white gloves.
  The members of company C, Fifth regiment infantry Pennsylvania 
volunteers will meet at the armory at Hollidaysburg at 7.45 a.m. to-
morrow to attend the funeral of the late David Cassiday.  Hats, leggins 
[sic] and white gloves will be worn.  The Altoona members of the 
company will meet at the corner of Sixth avenue and Nineteenth street, 
where they will be joined by the out-of-town members at 8.15 a.m.  All 
members of the late volunteer army of the United States, whether in 
uniform or not, are invited to attend.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Thursday, August 10, 1899

  With reference to the fatal accident of which David Cassiday was a 
victim, Deputy Coroner H. W. McCartney yesterday got the evidence of 
Conductor Nash, who was on extra 1143 eastbound.  Mr. Nash said that 
his engine was cut off at Ninth street and was proceeding down the 
yard.  Cassiday was on a flat car on an empty train coming west.  Next 
to the flat was a foreign box car with a ladder on its side.  Mr. 
Cassiday, when the flat car left the track, endeavored to crawl up the 
ladder on the box car.  While in the act of doing this he was caught by 
one of the steel cars and thrown to the tracks, when he was run over.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Friday, August 11, 1899