OBIT: Walter McMAHON, 1899, Altoona, Blair County, PA

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FATAL ACCIDENT AT RED BRIDGE.

YARD BRAKEMAN RUN OVER.

Both Legs Frightfully Crushed - The Injured Man Died at the Hospital.

  At 11:30 o'clock last night Walter McMahon, a brakeman in the yard, met 
with an accident which resulted in his death a half hour later.
  McMahon was a member of the crew conducted by M. P. Weston; engineer, 
Frank Ross.  When the accident occurred the crew was engaged in shifting 
cars near Red Bridge, a short distance below this city.  McMahon attempted 
to cross the track in front of several cars that were being dropped down 
into the yard, and was struck and knocked down.  One of the cars passed over 
him, crushing both legs in a horrible manner.  His right arm was also 
fractured at the wrist.
  The unfortunate man was taken to the hospital in an unconscious condition.  
He died about five minutes after being admitted to the institution.
  The deceased was a son of George and Ida McMahon, of 918 Chestnut avenue.  
He was born at Manor Hill, Huntingdon county, and was aged 21 years and 26 
days.  He had been railroading for three years and was a member of the 
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen and the Pennsylvania Railroad Relief 
department.  He is survived by his parents and the following brothers and 
sisters: Nora B., Edgar A., Annie A., and Carlton.
  Coroner McCartney investigated the case today and decided an inquest 
unnecessary.  The remains were prepared for burial by Undertaker Lafferty 
this afternoon and removed to the home of the deceased.

Altoona Mirror, Wednesday, August 30, 1899, page 1

ACCIDENTAL DEATH.

So Says the Coroner's Jury in the Case of Walter McMahon.

  The coroner's jury, emjannelled [sic] to investigate the death of Walter 
McMahon, the brakeman who died from the effects of injuries received in the 
yard, near Red Bridge, on Tuesday night, met at the undertaking rooms of J. 
P. Lafferty yesterday afternoon.
  The jury was composed of John S. Malloy, S. B. Barr, D. E. Butler, Henry 
Hawk, G. L. Schwartz and S. C. Harpster.
  The witnesses examined, included Brakeman D. J. Nolan, J. Haines, H. L. 
Leonard and J. C. Gontz and Conductor M. R. Weston.  Their testimony was to 
the effect that McMahon had no business to cross the tracks in front of the 
car that run him down.  Two men claimed to have cried a warning to him, but 
they could not say whether he heard them or not, as he did not stop or look 
around.
  The jury, after deliberating a short time, rendered a verdict "That death 
was caused by being run down by a car in the lower yard of the Pennsylvania 
railroad company, and that his death was purely accidental and unavoidable."

Altoona Mirror, Saturday, September 2, 1899