OBIT: Peter McTAMANY, 1893, Altoona, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _______________________________________________ ENGINEER PETER McTAMANY Loses a Leg on the Railroad - He is in a Dangerous Condition. Mr. Peter McTamany, the well known railroad engineer, met with an unfortunate accident this morning by which he lost his right leg and may lose his life. He was knocked down and run over by a locomotive directly in front of his residence, No. 2022 Tenth avenue. Mr. McTamany's run has been only as far as Gallitzin, as a helper on the mountain. At 9:30 o'clock this morning he left his home with the intention of walking on the railroad to the Pittsburg division roundhouse for his engine. A train of cars happened to be standing on the first track and he crawled under to the other side. He was just straightening up when the tender of yard locomotive No. 133, in charge of Engineer William Hughes, struck him on the right shoulder and knocked him against the freight train. He fell to the ground and his right foot got under the wheels of the engine with the result already stated. The yard engine had hauled a freight train to Twenty-fourth street and was backing down empty. As Mr. McTamany stepped suddenly in front of the tender Engineer Hughes did not see him and did not discover that he had struck a man until he had gone a considerable distance. Engineer McTamany was carried to his house and his pastor, Very Rev. Father Bush and Drs. Fay and Christy summoned. As the reaction was very slight amputation was not yet performed when the reporter visited the sufferer at noon. The news of the accident was received with sorrow by Mr. McTamany's large circle of friends. He is one of the oldest and most trusted engineers in the service of the company. He was born in Cambria county, 57 years ago, and first ran an engine on the Baltimore & Ohio road. He came to the P.R.R. years ago and remained until 1870, when he went to Kentucky, returning in 1880. He has served in common council as the representative of the Fifth ward and has been since its organization an active member of the board of trade. No man is better known here and none more respected. The latest information received just as we go to press is that Dr. Christy is still at the house waiting for conditions favorable for an operation. Such an injury as Mr. McTamany's is not usually regarded as dangerous, but his age is against him. Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Friday Evening, March 3, 1893 Engineer McTamany's Leg Amputated. About 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon Drs. Fay and Christy amputated Engineer McTamany's right leg just below the knee. The injured man bore the operation as well as could be expected of a man of his age, and he will most likely get well. This morning he seemed to be in a feeble condition, but the physicians believe he will recover from the shock. Yesterday and today many friends called at the residence to make inquiries as to his condition. Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Saturday Evening, March 4, 1893 LOCAL ITEMS IN BRIEF Engineer McTamany, who had his leg amputated as the result of an accident on Friday last, is reported by his physicians as doing very well and, by present indications is in a fair way for recovery. Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Monday Evening, March 6, 1893 Peter McTamany. It is our painful duty to announce the death of Peter McTamany, which occurred at his residence, 2022 Tenth avenue, at 4:45 o'clock this morning. Last Friday morning, while on the way from his home to the Pittsburg division roundhouse he was knocked down by a locomotive and his right leg crushed by the wheels. The same afternoon the limb was amputated and the physicians had reason to believe that he would survive the shock. He seemed to be progressing rapidly toward recovery until Sunday evening, when a change took place. Since then he sank gradually until death came. He was conscious of his approaching dissolution and was consoled by the sacraments of the Catholic church, of which he was a most consistent member. Mr. McTamany was born on December 4, 1835, on a farm near the foot of Plane No. 4, on the Portage railroad, now Lilly, Cambria county, and spent his early years on the farm. When 18 years of age he went to Parkersburg, West Virginia, and after serving three years as a fireman on the Baltimore and Ohio road became a locomotive engineer and ran on that road till the fall of 1861, when he came to Altoona, having secured a run on the Pittsburgh division of the railroad. He remained here till 1870, when he went to Kentucky and was employed on the L. & N. road till the summer of 1880, since which time he had been a resident of this city, and an engineer on the Pittsburg division. He was married at the Summit, Cambria county, Feb. 3, 1861, to Miss Julia A. Conrad, who with two sons survive him. They are Francis J., of No. 1012 Twenty-second street, this city, and Hugh P., at home. Three other children are dead. He also leaves an adopted daughter, Miss Ella. The venerable mother of the deceased lives in Washington township, Cambria county, with another son, John, and two daughters, Margaret and Ann. Another sister of the deceased, Mrs. James Reilly, lives between Gallitzin and Ashville. Mr. McTamany represented the Fifth ward in common council two terms, from 1886 to 1888, and served on the more important committees. He brought to the performance of his duties as councilman a high degree of intelligence and being active and energetic his influence was felt in all the city legislation at that period. He was thoroughly conversant with the sewerage question and actively assisted in the extension of sewers throughout the city. He also devoted particular attention to the subject of Altoona's water supply and had recently made a series of drawings of all the water courses contiguous to this city, some of them having recently been exhibited at the board of trade meetings. Mr. McTamany was an enthusiastic member of the board of trade ever since its organization, and rarely failed to attend its meetings. By his death Altoona loses one of its most intelligent and public spirited citizens. Personally, Mr. McTamany was a most honorable and upright gentleman. He had a pleasant disposition and the broadest charity; slow to take offense, he gave none, and thus had many friends and probably no enemies. His death will be sincerely regretted by all who knew him, and especially by the railroad associates who knew his kindly character better than others. The funeral will leave his residence at 8:30 o'clock Friday morning to proceed to St. John's Catholic church where requiem mass will be celebrated. The interment will be made in St. John's cemetery. Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Wednesday Evening, March, 8, 1893 Death of Mr. Peter M'Tamany His Injuries Received Last Friday Have Proved to Be Fatal He Died Yesterday Morning He Seemed to Be Progressing Towards Recovery Until Sunday Night When He Began to Sink - Mr. McTamany Had Been A Railroader During All His Manhood Days - One of the Most Public-Spirited Citizens of Altoona Peter McTamany, one of the most prominent residents of the city, died yesterday morning at 4:45, at his home, 2022 Tenth avenue. His death was the result of the injuries which he sustained last Friday. His demise, especially under the circumstances, will be sorrowful intelligence to his many warm friends. In fact, the city is seldom called upon to mourn the loss of such a public-spirited man as he who has just passed away. The facts in regard to Mr. McTamany's fatal accident have been published. While on his way to the Pittsburg division roundhouse on Friday morning, he was knocked down by a locomotive, and his right leg was severely crushed. On Friday afternoon the mangled limb was amputated. At that time it was not supposed his injuries were of a fatal character, and his physicians expressed the opinion, that, in time, he would be fully restored to health. The opinion of the doctors was verified by Mr. McTamany's condition up until Sunday evening. Then there was a change for the worse. All that was possible was done for the wounded man, but medical skill proved to be utterly powerless to check the steady advance of death. He continued to sink until the hour previously stated, when, in a peaceful manner, he breathed his last. Mr. McTamany was fully aware of his approaching demise and he prepared for it by providing himself with the religious ministrations of his faith and his last hours were made happy by the sacraments of the Catholic church, of which he had been a faithful member all his life. Peter McTamany was born Dec. 4, 1835. He first saw the light of day on a farm, near the foot of Plane No. 4, on the Portage railroad. His birthplace is near the present site of Lilly in Cambria County. His youthful life was spent a home, engaged in the usual occupations of a boy on a farm. At the age of 18 he went to Parkersburg, W. Va., where he became a fireman on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, afterwards rising to the position of engineer. He remained in the employ of that corporation until the fall of 1861, when he came to this city and assumed a position as engineer on the Pittsburg division. He filled that capacity for nine years and in 1870 went to Kentucky where he served as an engineer on the Louisville and Nashville railroad. He returned to Altoona in 1880, when he resumed his former position on the Pittsburg division and continued in it up until the time of his fatal accident. Mr. McTamany was married at Summit, Cambria county on Feb. 3, 1861 to Miss Julia A. Conrad. His wife and two sons survive him. Three children preceded their father to the grave. His surviving sons are Francis J., living at 1012 Twenty-second street and Hugh P., who resides at home. Mr. McTamany is also mourned by an adopted daughter, Miss Ella, his aged mother, living in Washington township, Cambria county, one brother, John, two sisters, Margaret and Ann, all living with their mother, and another sister, Mrs. Jane Reilly, residing near Gallitzin. Mr. McTamany served in the lower branch of Altoona city council for two years, from 1886-1888. He was one of the most industrious members that our councilmanic bodies ever possessed and his labors were as intelligently directed as they were persistently pursued. He aimed at progress and, being a man of practical ideas, his opinions were always of value. He identified his efforts with the city legislation and his common sense opinions won him the respect of the people. Some of the most important problems with which our municipal government has had to deal found an able student in Mr. McTamany. No phase of Altoona's public questions escaped his keen observation. A matter in which he was particularly interested was the subject of the city's water supply. He had made it a study and a short time before his death he expressed himself as being in favor of the city exercising the power of the law granted to it to secure possession of numerous mountain streams above the Kittanning reservoir. His explanation of the reasons for such action was founded on his complete knowledge of the subject on which he spoke. He was one of the most earnest members of the board of trade. It was very seldom that he failed to be present at its meetings and his membership was not of a nominal character. He loved the city, gloried in its prosperity, and hailed every fresh mark of that progress for which labored so earnestly. He had a kind word for all of his acquaintances and was one of the most genial of men. Exact to the duties of his life, of a personal character without reproach, he was, in his sphere, a model man. His hosts of friends can never forget him and he will long be missed and mourned. His long experience as a railroader naturally won the warm esteem of his associates. He was one of the reliable engineers of the Pittsburg division, thoroughly acquainted with the details of his occupation. The funeral will take place on Friday morning. The cortege will leave the house at 8:30 o'clock and proceed to St. John's Catholic church, where requiem high mass will be celebrated. Interment in St. John's cemetery. Altoona Times, March, 1893