OBIT: John McDERMOTT, 1890, Altoona, Blair County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB

Copyright 2009.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/
_________________________________________ 

INSTANTLY KILLED.
Brakeman John McDermott's Tragic Death Yesterday Morning.

  News was received in this city yesterday morning of an accident at 
Johnstown which resulted in the instant death of John McDermott, of 
this city.  Mr. McDermott was employed as a brakeman on the Pittsburgh 
division, under Conductor Rutter, and left the home of his parents, No. 
1215 Seventeenth street, at 6.30 o'clock on Monday morning, on the 
western trip, which was made without incident.  On the return trip it 
was found necessary to do some shifting at the Johnstown warehouse, and 
it was here that the fatality occurred.  To make up the train it was 
found necessary to couple on a draft of three cars.  To do this 
McDermott made an attempt to pass from one side of the train to the 
other to secure the coupling pin.  Just as he was about to pass between 
the cars some one, not noticing McDermott's position, gave the engineer 
the signal to back, and before he could succeed in getting out the cars 
came forcibly together, the deadwood catching the unfortunate brakeman 
across the chest and crushing the life out of him.  The accident 
occurred at about 7.10 o'clock and the body was prepared for burial and 
brought to this city on Philadelphia express and taken to his late home 
in this city.
  The deceased was a son of James and Catharine McDermott, 1215 
Seventeenth street, and was 21 years of age in May last.  He was a 
young man of many excellent qualities, and the announcement of his 
tragic and untimely death was received with expressions of profound 
sorrow by his large circle of acquaintances and his immediate 
relatives.  He was faithful to duty and by his actions and manly 
conduct while on the road gained for himself the respect of his fellow 
trainmen and the confidence of his employers.  He had been a brakeman 
on the division on which he met his death for the past three months and 
was regarded as being very careful in his work.  He was a devout member 
of St. John's Catholic church and always consistent in his church 
duties.
  Besides his aged parents he is survived by five brothers and four 
sisters.  The brothers are: Thomas, William, Patrick, James and Frank 
McDermott; the sisters, Mrs. John O'Friel, Mrs. Frank Adams, Mrs. John 
Bussman and Miss Ella, all living in this city and the last named at 
the parental residence.
  The funeral will take place from the home of his parents, at half 
past 8 o'clock on Thursday morning, to proceed to St. John's church 
where services will be held.  Interment in St. John's cemetery.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Wednesday, November 5, 1890