OBIT: George LEEPER, 1905, Tyrone, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Sharon Miller Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _________________________________________ THREE BOYS KILLED Fatal Coasting Accident at the Junction of Washington Avenue and Twelfth Street. A fatal and particularly sad accident occurred at the railroad crossing at the junction of Washington Avenue and Twelfth Street at fifteen minutes past 7 o'clock Thursday evening. That locality, known as the Twelfth Street coasting course, has for years been the resort for lovers of the coasting not only children, but grown people entering into the sport with the greatest vim and interest. When the track leading from Cameron East was in good condition as many as two or three hundred people have assembled either to engage in the coasting, or stand along the track to witness the sleds, whizzing past, keeping up their momentum often as far as Blair Avenue, a quarter of a mile from the starting place. Thursday the warmth of the atmosphere had melted the snow and ice on the track very considerably, making it less attractive than it had been the past week or more, but a number of boys had gathered on the hillside at the hour named, there being four sleds in all. One bobsled was manipulated by three boys, W. Raymond Elder, George W. Thomas and George Leeper, aged respectively 12, 10 and 9 years. The lads after eating their suppers at their homes on Pennsylvania, Washington and Blair Avenues, proceeded to the coasting course and had made several successful trips, but the glee and hilarity of their sport was soon brought to a sudden and horrible termination, for a final and fatal trip was made by them. At the time named, the lads coming down the hill at a high rate of speed arrived at the railroad track on Washington Avenue, just as the main line shifter engine No. 1235 was backing down the track from the East Tyrone yard to the depot Several other boys were waiting at the top of the hill for the "next ride" on the same sled. It is evident that the boys realized the danger they were in, and might have saved themselves by rolling off the sled, but they remained on it and endeavored to stop by guiding the sled to one side and against one of several piles of snow that had been shoveled to the side of the road from the crossing. They however miscalculated the rate of speed their sled was under, for it quickly scaled the snow mound; less than three feet in height and landed on the railroad track between the engine and tender which arrived on the spot at the same moment as the sled did. It all happened quick as thought almost, and the boys were being ground under the wheels of the great engine and the sled broken to pieces before anyone fully realized what happened. On the engine were Engineer Joseph G. Hull, Fireman W. L. Weierick Conductor Charles B. Connell, and Brakemen Harry B. Thomas and F. H. McQuigg. The lever was at once reversed by the engineer, but the grade being steep and the track more or less icy the engine could not be brought to a full stop before Eleventh Street was almost reached, a distance of a little more than 200 feet. Raymond Elder and George Thomas were not dragged along the track by the engine, but George Leeper was caught under the fender and carried along far as the engine ran. He was taken out as tenderly is possible, but not without some difficulty and carried to his home, 1225 Blair Avenue, where Dr. B. J. Fulkerson was summoned to attend him. His left foot was cut off and his right thigh and left arm fractured, besides various cuts and braises about the body, and he evidently suffered internal injury. Raymond Elder was picked up and carried to the office of Dr. Fulkerson, where Dr. W. S. Musser was summoned and attended him. Both his feet were crushed and one leg crushed to the ankle, the other half way to the knee, while he suffered a compound fracture of the skull and various body abrasions. George Thomas was the son of Brake man Harry Thomas, who was terribly shocked when he discovered that one of the unfortunate lads was his son. He was carried to his home on Washington Avenue where Dr's. L. F. Crawford and R. L. Piper were summoned and rendered all the attention that could be given the little sufferer. His right arm was torn off, left leg crushed, and there were puncture wounds of the scalp and a number of body bruises. On the Altoona accommodation train at 9.21 o'clock, the injured boys were all conveyed to the Altoona hospital, Dr. Thomas Tobin, and their parents accompanying them. Raymond Elder lingered until 1.50 o'clock Friday morning when he died. George Thomas died at 6.46 o'clock, and George Leeper passed away at 10 o'clock. The bodies were all prepared for shipment and brought to Tyrone on a train arriving here at 11.35 o'clock Friday. They were taken to the Graham establishment, prepared for: burial and then conveyed to the homes. William Raymond Elder was the son of Mrs. Clara L. Rider. He was born on April 15, 1892 and was aged 12 years, nine months and seven days. His Father H. G. Elder met a tragic death on April 28, 1902, being killed by the fall of a safe in the stairway of The First National Bank building. Besides his Mother, four sisters and one brother survive: Misses Leonore, Vernal, Mary and Ethel and Guy Elder all at the family home. George Washington Thomas was born at Petersburg, Huntingdon County, on May 24, 1894, and was therefore aged 10 years, 7 months and 26 days. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry R. Thomas, who with their only surviving child, Barry F. C., now nine months old, reside on North Washington Avenue, less than a square from the place where the accident occurred. The family have resided in Tyrone the past four years. George Donald Leeper was born near Petersburg, Huntingdon County, on June 6, 1895, and was aged 9 years, 7 months and 14 days. Be was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thaddeus Leeper, who with three other sons survive, namely: Charles, Samuel and John, all at the family home, 1225 Blair Avenue. The family have resided in Tyrone since April, 1908. The tragic death of the three boys is extremely sad, their several homes being immersed in great sorrow. The families have the deepest sympathy of the community generally. A pall of gloom pervaded the entire town as the news of the terrible accident rapidly spread after it occurred, which deepened into a dense sombrous/(sic) cloud as the news came from the hospital of the death of one boy after the other until all had passed away. A great crowd soon gathered at the scene of the accident, and during the entire evening many large and small groups of people gathered on the downtown streets to learn the particulars of and discuss the accident. The funeral of George Donald Leeper was held on Sunday afternoon. Services at the home at 1 o'clock by Reverend J. H. Daugherty, after which the remains were conveyed on the 2.16 train to Petersburg for burial. The funeral of William Raymond Elder was held Monday afternoon. Services at the home by Rev J. B Daugherty at 1 o'clock. Interment at Tyrone cemetery. The funeral of George Thomas was held Monday afternoon. Services at the home, by Reverend J. P. Cowling at 3 o'clock. Interment at Tyrone cemetery. Tyrone Herald, Tyrone, Pa., Thursday, January 26, 1905