OBIT: Milford and Sara (SHAW) LANGHAM, 1901, Duncansville, Blair County, PA

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KILLED NEAR HOME.

  Milford Langham and wife, of Duncansville, were killed Saturday 
evening at the Y switches, while driving from Hollidaysburg, where they 
had been shopping.  They were run down by the train that was bringing 
the P.R.R. draughtsmen home from a day's outing at Flowing Spring.  
Conductor B. C. Knepper was in charge, with Engineer Wm. Gorsuch at the 
throttle.
  It seems that the horse, which was high spirited, took fright 
probably at the excursion train, ran along the fence for a short 
distance, cleared a deep ditch in its path and then dragged the buggy 
and its occupants onto the track, not giving them an opportunity to 
jump for their lives.  Mrs. Langham was instantly killed, her head 
being split open and brains scattered along the track.  Notwithstanding 
that Mr. Langham's left leg was cut off and that he was injured 
internally, he lived long enough to be placed on the train to be taken 
to the Altoona hospital, but died before the train reached the station 
here.  The horse was killed and the buggy smashed.  The bodies were 
brought to Altoona and turned over to Undertaker Lafferty.  He prepared 
them for burial.
  The horse the Langhams were driving had attempted to run off on their 
way to Hollidaysburg, so Mrs. Langham told a Hollidaysburg woman, 
adding "I am so stiff from being dragged that I expect to stay in bed 
all day tomorrow."
  The buggy was carried by the locomotive the length of twenty-two 
rails from the crossing.
  Mr. Langham, who was a son of James Langham and wife, of the Foot of 
Ten, was aged 45 years and was employed in the bar mill of the American 
steel hoop works at Duncansville.  Mrs. Langham, before her marriage, 
was Sara L. Shaw.  She was aged 41 years and was born in Puzzletown, 
near Newry.  Both were members of old families identified with that 
section of the county and were highly esteemed by a large number of 
friends.  Mr. Langham was a member of the Republican league of Altoona.  
He carried $1,000 life insurance with the Prudential company and was 
also a member of the Duncansville Burial association.
  Seven children are made orphans, three sons and five daughters, the 
oldest a son of 16 and the youngest 2 years old.
  An eye witness says that the horse was some distance away from the 
track when the train bore down on it.  Suddenly it reared on its hind 
legs and plunged forward directly in front of the engine.  The horse 
was knocked on one side of the track, the Langham's on the other.
  Coroner McCartney is investigating the accident.  He went out to the 
Y switches this afternoon.  He will likely hold an inquest tomorrow.
  The remains of the unfortunate couple were taken to Duncansville 
yesterday afternoon on a special train.

Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Monday, July 15, 1901

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The sad double funeral of Mr. and Mrs. Milford Langham, the unfortunate 
victims of the railroad train and horse and buggy disaster at the Y 
switches on last Saturday evening, took place from their late home at 
Duncansville yesterday afternoon.  The services were conducted by Rev. 
Isaac Krider, pastor of the Lutheran church, assisted by Rev. Moody, 
pastor of the Presbyterian church.  There was a large concourse of 
sorrowing relatives and sympathizing friends in attendance.  The 
remains were interred side by side in one grave in the Carson Valley 
cemetery.

Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Tuesday, July 16, 1901

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VERDICT OF CORONER'S JURY
In the Case of Mr. and Mrs. Millard [Milford] Langham - Evidence Showed 
That the Accident Was Unavoidable, and No Blame Is Attached to Railroad 
Employes.

  The tragic death of Mr. and Mrs. Milford Langham, of Duncansville, at 
& switches on July 13, was investigated by Coroner McCartney and a jury 
last night and officially stamped as an unavoidable accident.  Over 
half a dozen witnesses were examined at Deputy Coroner H. W. 
McCartney's stationery store.
  Conductor B. K. Knepper told of being out on the special train to 
Flowing Spring and of the return trip.  He heard the engineer whistle, 
also felt the putting on of the air.  He told of picking up the remains 
of the woman and placing them on the car with her husband.  The 
engineer whistled three times.  Supposed they were running about 25 
miles an hour.  Ran past the place of the accident about 150 yards.  
The crew of the train had not been drinking.
  Deputy Sheriff I. N. Eby testified to having been on the train and to 
seeing the buggy being driven along the road.  The train could be seen 
for several squares.  Saw the horses about two lengths from the track.  
He turned his head and did not see the buggy struck.  Afterward saw it 
on the pilot of the engine.
  Engineer W. D. Gorsuch, of the 1013 said he saw the horse and buggy.  
At McCahan's bluff he whistled for the public road crossing, and a 
short time after he passed the station.  The man in the buggy looked up 
and saw the engineer and cut his horse.  He put on air and tried to 
stop.  After hitting released the air and put on steam to stop wheels 
from slipping.  He did all he could to stop.  Was running about 25 
miles an hour.  Was about 200 feet from the crossing when he stopped.  
Was out on Monday and buggy was not in the place it was left Saturday 
night.  When the buggy upset the occupants went under the wheels.  
Himself or the others of the crew had not drank.
  Fireman H. L. Clapper and Brakeman W. R. Schindlenaker also gave 
testimony as to the whistle being sounded and the air applied.  So also 
did several other witnesses.
  Harry Collier, a passenger, said the horse was on a steady trot and 
kept it up and jumped in front of the engine.  The woman struck the 
steam chest or smoke stack and was thrown ten feet in the air. Did not 
see the man.  The engineer stopped within about 300 feet.  Witness was 
in the middle of the car and said the man made no effort to stop.
  After listening to the testimony the jury retired and formulated the 
following verdict:  "Death was caused by an unavoidable accident at the 
public road crossing at Y switches, by being struck by a special train 
drawn by locomotive No. 1013, Saturday evening, July 13, 1901, no blame 
being attached to railroad employes."
  These gentlemen composed the jury:  W. T. Howard, D. W. Ramey, Cyrus 
Valentine, S. T. Ferguson, B. A. Baker, E. K. Rupp.

Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Wednesday, July 24, 1901