OBIT: John KEISTER, 1876, of interest in Blair County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by MS
<MMSGemstone@aol.com>

Copyright 2010.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/
_________________________________________ 

KEISTER - ANOTHER SAD ACCIDENT - On Sunday afternoon, about three 
o'clock, as the limited mail west, engine 27, was running at schedule 
time, near Warrier Ridge Water station, a rock, probably weighing a 
hundred pounds, was discovered on the track, the engineer, John Keister 
reversed the engine, but it was to late to stop. The engine became 
detached from the train, ran along on the track a short distance, where 
it encountered a switch and ran on the other track, and over the 
embankment. Mr. Keister when he saw the engine was about to go over, 
attempted to jump, but in doing so, he was caught between the tank and 
the engine, and crashed so badly that he died in about twenty minutes. 
Engineer Drake, of engine 530, was on with him and went to the bottom 
but was not hurt. The fireman, Mr. Kauffman, was thrown into the tank, 
but escaped with only a few bruises. None of the passengers were 
injured. Mr. Keister resided in Harrisburg and leaves a widow, who is 
the daughter of Hon. S. R. McCune of Frankstown tp., and several 
children. The bereaved friends have the sympathy of all our people. The 
funeral will take place at the Presbyterian cemetery, at Hollidaysburg, 
today, Wednesday.

The Register, Hollidaysburg, Pa., Wednesday, March 8, 1876

The funeral of Mr. John Keister, the engineer who was killed on the 
Pennsylvania Railroad on Sunday the 5th last inst., was largely 
attended. Services were held in the Presbyterian church, this place, 
from whence the remains were conveyed to the cemetery. He was highly 
esteemed by his acquaintances, and his sorrowing family have the 
sympathy of our entire community.

The Register, Hollidaysburg, Pa., Wednesday, March 15, 1876