OBIT: George B. FORTNEY, 1893, 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/ _________________________________________ TWO BRAKEMEN KILLED. Two Distressing Accidents in the Altoona Railroad Yard. George B. Fortney, aged 31 years, a brakeman in Conductor David Woomer's yard crew, was riding on the top of a car going east through the Altoona yard about 2:15 o'clock this morning, when he was struck by the Twelfth street bridge. He fell between the cars to the rails and was run over and dragged about one hundred feet. His body was horribly mutilated and death must have been instantaneous. Mr. Fortney leaves a wife and two children who live on Crawford avenue near Fourth street. He had only been employed in the yard since last July. Prior to that time he worked in the company's blacksmith shop under Foreman Folk. He was a gentleman, an excellent citizen, and a Christian, being a member of the Fifth Avenue Methodist church. Coroner Poet empanelled a jury at 10 o'clock this morning, which viewed the body but, owing to the absence of the crew to which the unfortunate man belonged, adjourned until 5:30 this evening, when an inquest will be held. Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Friday Evening, March 17, 1893