OBIT: John GEARHART, 1905, Altoona, Blair County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich
<millich84@hotmail.com>

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Two Killed, Many Hurt 
In a Railroad Accident on the C. & C. Branch near Bradley Junction

  A landslide caused an accident on the Cresson & Clearfield Branch of 
the Pennsylvania Railroad near Bradley Junction at 5:30 o'clock 
Saturday evening which resulted in the death of Engineer John Gearhart 
of Altoona, aged forty-six, and Addison Kurtz, aged twenty-seven, a 
mail clerk of Cherry Tree.  Jacob Miller, a fireman of Altoona, was 
caught under the wreckage.  His foot was amputated at the Altoona 
Hospital.  Several passengers were cut and bruised but none seriously 
injured.  Charles Campbell, Charles Schnarr and Fred Fondelier of 
Johnstown were passengers on the train.
  The train was running at full speed with a clear track when Engineer 
Gearhart saw the earth give way from the side of a steep cut only a few 
rods ahead of the locomotive. He reversed the engine, threw on the 
airbrakes and shouting a warning to his fireman, attempted to leap to 
safety.  As the locomotive struck the huge massed rock and earth it 
reared into the air and fell over on its side dragging the combination 
baggage and postal car with it. As Gearhart jumped, he was caught under 
the overturning engine and crushed to death.  Fireman Miller failed to 
clear the wreck of the tender and was caught by one leg, the foot being 
almost severed at the ankle.  The combination car was thrown on top of 
the locomotive and Postal Agent Kurtz was pinned in the wreckage.  He 
was so fearfully injured that he died soon after being extricated.
  The cars careened when the shock came but settled back on the tracks.  
The passengers who were thrown from their seats were not seriously hurt 
and all the men folks hurried to the rescue of the imperiled fireman 
and postal agent.  It was some time before Miller could be located, a 
huge quantity of snow, brought down by the shock, covered him 
completely.

Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, Pa., Volume 39, Number 11, Friday, March 
24, 1905