OBIT: George B. HAMER, 1900, Sinking Valley, Blair County, PA

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DROWNED NEAR TYRONE.
The Fate Which Befel George B. Hamer, of Sinking Valley.
BODY FOUND IN JUNIATA RIVER
Discovery Was Made Shortly After Noon Yesterday - One Hand Was 
Protruding from the Ice Which Had Formed.
HE TOOK THE WRONG ROAD HOME

  Shortly after 12 o'clock noon yesterday a broken buggy was discovered 
in the Juniata river opposite Nealmont, about a mile east of Tyrone, 
and upon close examination the body of a man was found in the water 
imbedded in the ice with one hand protruding from the ice (which had 
apparently formed during the night previous.)  The buggy was partly 
resting on the lower portion of the body.  The ice was broken and the 
body removed from the river and Coroner McCartney notified.
  He arrived at the scene of the accident shortly before 3 o'clock 
yesterday afternoon, and had the body removed to the undertaking 
establishment of Burley & Graham, in Tyrone, where he empanneled the 
following jury of inquest: Harry Wands, Augustus Harr, A. R. Barr, Dr. 
M. F. Musser, Samuel Graham and D. T. Caldwell, who examined the 
following witnesses: James Crape, John Thomas, E. M. Roberts and John 
Fisher, and ascertained the name of deceased to be George B. Hamer, and 
that he came to his death by drowning, by being accidentally (with his 
horse and buggy), thrown down an embankment and into the Juniata river 
at Nealmont some time during Saturday night while on his way to his 
home.
  George B. Hamer had for the past five years worked and lived on the 
farm of John Fisher, near Arch Spring, in Sinking Valley.  He was aged 
about 40 years and leaves a wife and seven children.  Saturday 
afternoon about 4 o'clock he obtained from Mr. Fisher $10 in money, 
saying that he was going to Tyrone to make a payment on a sewing 
machine.  About or near 7 o'clock the same evening he called at the 
office of E. M. Roberts, sewing machine agent, West Tenth street, and 
paid him $5, taking his receipt for same.  From what we could learn he 
got into his buggy shortly after 9 o'clock, somewhat under the 
influence of liquor, and started for his home.  It seems that instead 
of crossing the bridge west of Nealmont, as he should have done, he 
drove out the Warriorsmark road to Nealmont and then got onto a byroad, 
which at one time was used for getting out material for road making and 
which led into a hill and is very narrow.  It may have been, after 
ascertaining his predicament, he attempted to make a turn, when horse, 
buggy and himself were thrown over the almost perpendicular embankment 
some fifty feet and into the river.  He may have been badly stunned, as 
no bruises or broken bones were apparent.  The horse, with some of the 
harness and a broken shaft was found yesterday morning about 6 o'clock, 
on the Tussey farm, near Mr. Fisher's, apparently uninjured.  On 
discovering the horse, the neighbors immediately started on a hunt for 
Mr. Hamer, and his remains were discovered as stated before they 
reached Tyrone.
  After the remains had been prepared for burial, Mr. Fisher and 
neighbors took them to the late home of the deceased, last evening.
  The Tribune is indebted to its Tyrone correspondent for the above.

Morning Tribune, Monday, January 29, 1900