OBIT: John D. DeARMITT, 1917, Altoona, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _________________________________________ WORKMAN INSTANTLY KILLED IN MACHINE John D. DeArmitt, Painting at Silk Mill, Has Neck Broken STATE FUND CLAIM TO BE PAID John D. DeArmitt, a painter residing at 2417 Union avenue, was instantly killed at the Altoona Silk mill, at 9:30 o'clock Saturday morning, when his clothing was caught by a shaft, throwing him against the ceiling and breaking his neck. DeArmitt, with three companions, in the employ of S. A. Hite, was engaged in painting the interior of the mill, toward the Twenty-fourth street side. He was standing on a scaffold placed about eight feet above the floor and it is thought that in stretching to reach a spot about the shaft, he came too close to the pulley. His clothing was caught and instantly he was jerked upward and around the shaft, being caught between it and the ceiling. The workmen noticed the accident practically as soon as it happened and William Fulle, a loom fixer, took a few steps to the nearby switchboard and shut the power off at once. The unfortunate man was dead when let down, his neck being broken and death having been instant. Dr. Earnest J. Hoover, summoned at once, stated that death had been instantaneous. Mr. Hite, the employer, was not in the mill when the accident occurred but arrived shortly afterward. He had been painting the inside of the mill yearly and had always instructed the men to take no chances, as the dangerous places could be painted when the machinery had been shut down. John D. DeArmitt was born at Greenwood Furnace, December 30, 1872, the son of McKinney and Sarah R. DeArmitt. He had resided in this city for many years and had learned the trade of painter when a young man. He was married July 11, 1916, to Anna Winsky, who survives with his parents and one sister, Miss Rhoda at home. DeArmitt had been insured by his employer in the Workmen's State . . . . this branch of the compensation act is shown in the fact that state representatives called at the DeArmitt home to arrange for a payment of the claim a few hours after death, although the policy had just been contracted for and the employer had not yet paid the first premium. The funeral will be held with services at the home of the parents, 2541 Union avenue, at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning, in charge of Revs. Vaugh T. Rue and J. L. Stouffer. Interment will be made in Fairview cemetery. Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Monday Morning, January 8, 1917