OBIT: John B. CHERRY, 1889, Blair County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB

Copyright 2020.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/


HIS NECK WAS BROKEN
FATAL ACCIDENT IN THE COMPANY'S LUMBER YARD.
Mr. John B. Cherry, While Helping to Unload a Car Load of Stringers,
Meets With an Accident Which Resulted in His Almost Instant Death
Shortly Before 6 O'clock Last Evening.
PINNED TO THE GROUND BY THE LUMBER.
Life Was Extinct When the Workmen Who Came to His Assistance
Extricated His Body.

An accident which was attended with fatal results occurred in the
lumber yard attached to the lower shops about half-past 5 yesterday
afternoon.  The victim of the accident was Mr. John B. Cherry, an
employe of the company under ex-Councilman C. L. Fettinger, foreman of
the lumber yard in question.  As near as can be learned the accident
occurred in the following manner:

In company with a fellow workman Mr. Cherry was in the act of
unloading a number of stringers such as are used in the construction
of passenger cars.  The lumber in question was composed of six pieces
of various lengths.  Two of the standards of the car had been knocked
out preparatory to the unloading.  Mr. Cherry's companion stood near
one end of the car, while Mr. Cherry was standing near where the
standards had been removed.  When the two standards had been removed
the weight of the lumber on those remaining was so great as to cause
them to break.  When the stringers began to slide Mr. Cherry started
to get out of the way, but this was an impossibility, owing to the
lumber pile which was parallel to the car.  Before he could reach the
end of this he was caught by the heavy stringers and was crushed to
the earth by their great weight.

His companion was struck on the shoulder by one of the stringers, but
not seriously injured, and he quickly gave the alarm, which caused a
number of men who were working in the vicinity to come upon the scene.
These men pried up the three stringers under which Mr. Cherry was
imprisoned.  Although prompt in their efforts to relieve their fellow
workman their promptness was unavailing, for just as the weight had
been removed from his body he breathed his last.  An examination
showed that both legs had been broken, as had also been his neck.  The
hospital ambulance was called and in it the body of the deceased was
taken to his late residence, 308 Walnut avenue.

Mr. Cherry was aged about 35 years and was a man who was liked by all
who knew him.  He had been in the employ of the company for a number
of years and was a faithful employe, and had the friendship and esteem
of all his fellow workmen.  He leaves to mourn the death of an ever
kind son a sorrowing mother and his brothers and sisters to whom he
was sincerely attached are W. W. Cherry, chief of police; A. A.
Cherry, with whom he boarded and to whose residence the body was
taken; Joseph C. Cherry, and Mrs. Anna N. Funk.  Mrs. Emma Bradley is
a half sister of the deceased.  Mr. Cherry was a member of Centennial
castle No. 204, Knights of the Golden eagle, having been a charter
member of this organization.  The castle will attend the funeral in a
body.  Yesterday evening the time of the funeral and the place of
interment had not yet been decided upon.

On being notified of the accident Coroner Glenn repaired to the home
of the deceased where he empanelled the following jury: Daniel Anders,
W. Hamilton, D. A. Miller, J. W. Chathams, P. J. Haley and J. P. Hill.
The remains were viewed and without taking any testimony the jury
adjourned until today.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Tuesday, July 2, 1889, page 1