OBIT: Jacob E. DIBERT, 1919, Altoona, Blair County, PA

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SHOPMAN KILLED WHEN DOOR HIT AND BROKE NECK
Jacob E. Dibert, Aged 25, of 623 Fifth Avenue, Meets Death 
Instantly in Car
A COMPANION NARROWLY ESCAPES

  Jacob E. Dibert, aged 25, of 623 Fifth avenue, was instantly killed 
and F. H. Wilkins, of Juniata Gap, narrowly escaped a similar fate when 
a steel door weighing 500 pounds fell and broke the former's neck in a 
freight car at Altoona car shou [shop] yards at 2:50 o'clock yesterday 
afternoon.
  Both men were employed as laborers and were engaged in unloading the 
heavy doors, which were crated.  Wilkins threw himself flat on the car 
floor to avoid being crushed like his companion workers.  Deputy 
Coroner C. T. Rothrock is investigating the accident and may conduct an 
inquest next week.
  Dibert and six or seven other men were unloading the doors, of which 
twelve had been shipped in a box car.  Eight of them had been removed.  
Several of the workmen entered the car to resume taking out the 
remaining four.  Dibert walked to the rear of the car, which was 
standing a hundred feet west of Second street.

CRUSHED AGAINST WALL.

  One of the crated doors suddenly slipped and fell toward the side 
wall.  It was too big to crop upon the floor.  Dibert was caught and 
the top of the crate struck and pressed his neck against the car, 
fracturing it.  Wilkins had no time to save his companion, but 
instinctively dropped to the floor and the crate missed him.
  None of the other men had any chance to render any help, as the crash 
happened so quickly that they knew nothing of it until Wilkins' cries 
attracted them inside.  They managed to extricate Dibert, but he was 
dead.  The body was removed to the morgue of Roher & Mauk, Juniata, 
where it was prepared for burial.
  A report was spread among shopmen and to the streets, following the 
fatality, that the accident was due to the lack of a sufficient force 
to handle the doors, but this was denied.

NATIVE OF CLAYSBURG.

  Jacob Emory Dibert was born at Claysburg, August 6, 1894, being the 
son of Mr. and Mrs. West Dibert, who survive with his wife, nee Miss 
Elizabeth M. Hutchison, and to whom the deceased was wedded in June, 
1916.
  A daughter, Helen, also survives, with his brother, Charles, this 
city, and two sisters, Miss Emma, Claysburg, and Mrs. Mathew Snyder, of 
Woodbury.  He was a member of the Claysburg Reformed church since early 
in his life, and a member of the P.R.R. Relief association.
  The body was taken to the home of his father-in-law and mother-in-
law, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Hutchison, of 617 Fifth avenue, from where the 
obsequies will be held on Monday at a time to be announced later.

Altoona Tribune, Saturday Morning, March 15, 1919

Funeral Notice

  Funeral services for Jacob E. Dibert, killed at the Pennsy shopyard 
Friday afternoon, will be held this afternoon at 2:30 p.m. today from 
the home of Samuel Hutchison, 617 Fifth avenue.  Burial in Oak Ridge 
cemetery.

Altoona Tribune, Monday Morning, March 17, 1919