OBIT: Austin B. DELOZIER, 1932, Duncansville, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Michael S. Caldwell Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _________________________________________ A. B. DELOZIER IS FATALLY INJURED Duncansville Citizen, Crossing Highway, Is Struck by Automobile and Dies Several Hours Later. HAD RETURNED HOME SHORT TIME BEFORE Force of Impact Throws Him Against Car and Then to Side of the Street Some Distance Away. Austin B. Delozier, aged 66, well known resident of Duncansville and life-long resident of Blair county, was fatally injured about 7.30 o'clock on Saturday evening when he was struck by an automobile owned and operated by Dayle E. Diehl of 310 Fifteenth street, Duncansville, at the Third avenue bridge at that place. Following the accident he was rushed to the Mercy hospital in this city, where death from a fracture of the skull and other injuries resulted at 2 o'clock Sunday morning. Mr. Delozier was conscious at intervals after the accident, being able to recognize his sister at the hospital. According to eyewitnesses to the accident, Mr. Delozier, who was en route from his home to uptown Duncansville, was about to cross from the south side of Third avenue to the north side of the street at the west end of the bridge, when he either failed to see the approach of the automobile operated by Diehl or misjudged its speed, and was struck. Hit by Fender. The left front fender of the car hit him and he was thrown over the hood, striking the windshield, presumably with his head, breaking the glass. He then rolled off the machine and was whirled around several times, landing on the berm at the south side of the street, where he was picked up and rushed to Hollidaysburg in the automobile of Raymond Zimberlin of 1106 Fourth avenue, Duncansville, one of the first to appear on the scene. He was taken to the office of Dr. W. E. Preston, where an examination revealed that he was badly injured and the ambulance was called from the Mercy hospital, in which he was taken to that institution. After treatment in the dispensary he was admitted to the hospital. His injuries consisted of a compound fracture of the right leg, a fractured shoulder and a severe laceration of the lower part of his face, in addition to the skull fracture, to which his death is attributed. The body was given in charge of Harvey M. Liebegott, Duncansville, mortician, to be prepared for burial. The deceased was a carpenter by occupation and for the past several weeks had been working in Cambria county. He arrived home to spend the weekend with his family only a few hours before meeting with the accident which resulted in his death. Austin B. Delozier was a son of Joseph (deceased) and Mrs. Catherine Delozier and was born at Claysburg on Sept. 17, 1866. When he was quite young the family moved to McKee, and later to the vicinity of Duncansville, and he had resided in that vicinity ever since. He served for a number of terms on the Duncansville school board and held other elective offices in his home community. His present residence, which he has occupied for a number of years, is near the borough line at the east end of town. On Sept. 19, 1889, he was united in marriage with Miss Etta Mae States, who survives. To this union twelve children were born, nine of whom are living. They are Rev. Arthur Delozier, of Asland, O., Harry Ralph of Vicksburg, Miss., Mrs. Almeda Shaffer of Hollidaysburg, Mrs. Gertrude Yarnell of Youngwood, Pa., Mrs. Mary Mauk and Mrs. Edith Herron of Roaring Spring, Miss Martha Delozier of State College and Elmer and Austin, jr., at home. His aged mother, Mrs. Catherine Delozier of Bellevue, Pa., a sister, Mrs. Martha Lower, with whom his mother resides, and three brothers, George of Juniata and Gilbert and Levi Delozier, both of Duncansville, and nineteen grandchildren also survive. His mother was in Duncansville for a week-end visit with her sons at the time of the accident and will remain until after the funeral services. Mr. Delozier was affiliated with the Vicksburg Brethren church, near McKee, where the funeral services will be conducted Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Interment will be made in the cemetery adjoining the church. He was also a member of Juniata lodge, No. 282, Free and Accepted Masons, in Hollidaysburg. Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Monday, October 24, 1932 According to word received from Harry Ralph "Dewey" Delozier of Vicksburg, Miss., he will not be able to arrive here for the funeral of his father, Austin B. Delozier, which is to be held tomorrow afternoon. Information of his father's tragic death was wired him on Sunday morning but he replied that it was impossible for him to come for the funeral services. Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Tuesday, October 25, 1932 TRAGIC DEATHS BEFALL SEVEN FIRST COUSINS DURING HALF CENTURY The tragic death of Austin B. Delozier at Duncansville last Saturday evening recalls a series of tragedies within the immediate family of Deloziers, descendants of the late Daniel and Catharine Delozier, pioneer residents of Blair township. The elder Mr. and Mrs. Delozier were the parents of two daughters and nine sons who grew to man and womanhood and each of whom raised large families. It was the grandchildren of this couple to whom tragic deaths were destined. Daniel Wilt, eldest son of the eldest daughter of the Deloziers, Mrs. Mary Wilt, then a man in his twenties, was accidentally shot by his own gun while standing in the Emanuel Ruggles blacksmith shop at Leamersville in 1879. His death was almost instantaneous. Some years later Daniel Delozier, a son of John Delozier, who was at the time residing on a farm at Stanfield station, was killed while hauling hay. He had stopped the team of horses attached to an empty hay wagon while he closed a gate and, it being dark, he ran into the sharp point of the spring pole into his abdomen, causing a puncture which resulted in his death. The next first cousin was Edward Delozier, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Delozier, who resided at Brookes Milles. Edward was engaged in a lumbering operation near Portage, Cambria county, and during a week- end decided to go to Johnstown for a visit. He boarded a freight train engaged in trafficking in lumber and in some manner was jolted from it and ground to death beneath the wheels. He was missed when the train reached Johnstown. The next of the Delozier family to meet a tragic death was Frank B. Delozier, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Levi Delozier of Kladder station. Mr. Delozier had formerly been engaged in merchandising and in the operation of a hotel in Hollidaysburg, but at the time of his death was employed as a conductor by the Altoona and Logan Valley Electric Railway company. Mr. Delozier was engaged in collecting fares on a heavily loaded open car which was coming up Lakemont hill, working on the side step. As he reached around a passenger to step backwards, he leaned out too far and his head struck on a trolley pole. He suffered a fracture of the skull and died. The next fatality was in the family of Mrs. Rachel Boose, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Delozier. Joseph Boose, eldest son, was a car builder for the Pennsylvania railroad and at the time of his death was a resident of Frankstown. Mr. Boose was working in the repair shops at Hollidaysburg, engaged at the moment making some adjustment under a freight car when, without any warning, the draft of cars was moved and his life was crushed out. John Irvin Delozier, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Ephraim Delozier, was a felodese victim ten months ago at Roaring Spring. These six men were first cousins. Four are buried at Vicksburg, one at Carson Valley and one at Geeseytown. In addition to the above, other misfortunes included the murder of a son of the late Austin B. Delozier several years ago in an Ohio city. Another son of Austin B. Delozier lost a leg; George Delozier, Juniata, a brother of Austin B. Delozier, lost an arm and a leg while engaged as a trainman and John M. Delozier, a brother of Daniel Delozier who was fatally injured when he suffered a puncture wound when he ran into a wagon, lost his right hand in an accident at a sawmill at which he was working many years ago. Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Wednesday, October 26, 1932 EXONERATE DRIVER IN AUTO FATALITY After Hearing Witnesses, Coroner's Jury Finds Death of A. B. Delozier Was Accidental. At an inquest into the death of Austin B. Delozier, aged 66, well known Duncansville resident, who was fatally injured in Saturday evening, Oct. 22, at 7.30 o'clock, when he was struck by an automobile owned and operated by Dayle E. Diehl of 310 Fifteenth street, Duncansville, Diehl was declared not at fault by the coroner's jury last night. After hearing the evidence submitted at the inquest an deliberating for a half hour, the jury returned the following verdict: "The death of Austin B. Delozier was caused by an automobile accident on Oct. 22, between Tenth and Eleventh streets on Third avenue, Duncansville, by being struck by a car operated by D.E. Diehl and according to the evidence presented, death was purely accidental and no fault could be attached to any one." Coroner Chester C. Rothrock conducted the inquest in the Liebegott building in Duncansville and the jury hearing the evidence was composed of the following residents of Duncansville: Elmer E. Hicks, L.E. Ressler, J.N. Landis, Albert Magill, Frank M. Lotz and Walter E. Piper. Mr. Hicks was named foreman of the jury. Bruce Imler of Duncansville was the first witness called. He stated he was about thirty or forty feet east of the Third avenue bridge where the accident occurred, while the accident took place about ten or fifteen feet west of the bridge. He saw Mr. Delozier walk across the street and being struck by a westbound car that passed him, he testified. The car was operated by Diehl, he learned following the accident. The night was clear, though dark, the westbound car was on its own side of the highway and he noticed no eastbound vehicle at the time, Mr. Imler testified further. He related what took place following the accident and of the distance away that the Diehl car stopped. This he estimated at 100 feet. He estimated the speed of the Diehl car at about 35 to 40 miles an hour. Diehl, it was stated by Imler, reached the scene of the mishap before he did. Diehl was sober in Imler's opinion. Miss Thelma Knuppenburg, also of Duncansville, a resident of near the scene of the fatal accident, was the second witness heard. She stated she did not notice the approaching car until she heard the thud and saw the body of the fatally injured man flying into the air. She described the position of the stopped car, gave the distances as she estimated them and told of the aid rendered. Albert Deyarmin of 3825 1/2 South Tenth avenue, this city, was next called to testify. He stated that his car was following that of Diehl at a distance of about twenty-five feet at the time of the accident and he stopped his car a short distance, back of the Diehl car. He stated he witnessed the accident, which occurred while the Diehl car was traveling at a speed not exceeding 30 miles an hour. The Diehl car passed his car a short distance below the bridge, near a filling station, while his car was being operated at a slow rate of speed on account of his intention to make a turn at the next corner. Although Mr. Deyarmin remembered no approaching car eastbound, Mrs. Deyarmin, who followed him as a witness, stated that she was positive of an eastbound machine that might have blinded Diehl and caused Mr. Delozier to become confused. Both Mr. and Mrs. Deyarmin witnessed the accident, they stated. Dayle E. Diehl was next sworn and volunteered to make a statement, although informed he need not do so unless he desired. He told of the accident in detail, relating that he had passed an eastbound machine on the east end of the bridge and did not see Mr. Delozier until he was within a foot of his car, too close to avoid hitting him. He told of running his machine some distance farther than would have been necessary to stop in order to clear the highway. He was alone in the car at the time of the accident, he stated, and he has been operating a motor vehicle for eight years. He stated in answer to a question, that there was no way to avoid the accident and that he was not driving fast, although the slower moving Deyarmin car was passed some distance east of the scene of the accident. Motor Patrolman C. Zartman was the last witness heard. He told of having a report of the accident, which was investigated about forty- five minutes after it occurred. He told of a burn mark on the highway made by a sliding tire, that was forty-two steps in length. This would be an indication that only one brake was working properly, the patrolman stated. A brake test was to be made the following day, but was not carried out on account of rain. Diehl had never been reported to the department for reckless driving, according to the officer's statement, and there was no indication that the man had been drinking. The patrolman concluded his testimony with a statement relative to blood marks on the highway and other details of the accident. The accident occurred on Saturday night, Oct. 22, at 7.30 o'clock, as Mr. Delozier attempted to cross the street en route from his home to the main business section of Duncansville. His death occurred the following morning at 2 o'clock in the Mercy hospital, this city, where he was removed after examination at the office of a Hollidaysburg physician, to which he was rushed immediately following the accident. Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Saturday, November 12, 1932