OBIT: William O'CONNOR, 1891, Altoona, Blair County, PA

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HE WAS INSTANTLY KILLED.
THE TRAGIC DEATH OF WILLIAM O'CONNOR YESTERDAY.
Caught Between Two Cars in the Yard His Life Was Instantly Snuffed Out, 
His Body Being Crushed in a Horrible Manner - The Manner in Which The 
Accident Happened.
HE WAS WELL LIKED BY HIS COMRADES
The Funeral Will Take Place on Monday Next From His Home 704 Eighth 
Street.

  One of the most distressing accidents that has occurred for years on 
the railroad in this city happened in the lower yard yesterday 
afternoon, the unfortunate victim being William O'Connor, a young man 
well known throughout the city.  He was employed as a brakeman on 
Conductor Thomas Stine's crew, and left his home at 704 Eighth street 
yesterday morning little anticipating the sad fate that overtook him 
before his day's work was ended.
  The accident happened on what is known as the main track in Levan's 
yard, near No. 2 planing mill, at about twenty minutes of 4 o'clock, 
and as nearly as can be learned as follows: Engine 787, Engineer John 
H. Powley, was drawing a draft of four freight cars up through the yard 
on the main track, and it was desired to swing the last two onto a side 
track.  To do this O'Connor had drawn the coupling pin and gave the 
signal to the engineer to go ahead, and, as is usual in such cases, the 
engine started at a good speed to clear the switch in time for it to be 
turned to throw the detached cars off the main track.  This was the 
last O'Connor was seen alive by any members of the crew.  After he had 
given the signal to the engineer, he slipped from the end of the flat 
car on which he was standing and, falling directly in front of the cars 
that had been cut off, he was knocked down, both cars passing over his 
body, killing him instantly.
  The body was immediately brought to Arthur's undertaking 
establishment and Coroner Poet notified.  That official impaneled a 
jury of inquest which met at 7 o'clock last evening and took the 
testimony of Engineer Powley, Conductor Stine and Brakeman William 
Heller.  The evidence is embodied in the above facts.  Neither the 
engineer nor the conductor saw the unfortunate man fall from the car, 
and the testimony of Brakeman Heller was the most important.  He was 
within a car length of O'Connor when he fell in front of the cars but 
could not tell whether he was on the part of the train attached to the 
engine or on the cars that had been cut off.  He thought the accident 
was an unavoidable one and that no one was to blame.  After considering 
the evidence the jury returned a verdict in accordance with the facts 
given.  In its examination of the body the jury found a sum of money, 
which was explained by the fact that he had been paid in the morning.  
This and the other articles found on his person were turned over to the 
family by the coroner.
  The body of the unfortunate brakeman from the waist to the feet had 
been ground almost into a pulp, the entrails being literally torn to 
pieces and the legs crushed into a mass of broken bones and mangled 
flesh.  The face had also been disfigured by contact with the ballast, 
and the deceased's friends could not recognize him in his mangled 
condition.  The remains were left in charge of the undertaker, who will 
prepare them for burial.
  The deceased was born April 16, 1867, and was consequently aged 23 
years, 8 months and 23 days.  For over three years he had been in the 
service of the company, first being employed as a night caller.  In 
December, 1889, while coupling cars, he was caught and sustained severe 
injuries and he did not fully recover from the effects of this accident 
until last October.  On the 6th day of that month he again accepted a 
position of brakeman and the greater part of this time he had been 
working under Conductor Stine.  He was a favorite with the men and his 
genial disposition made him many friends among railroaders.  He had 
been unwell recently and only returned to work on Monday of the present 
week.  The men with whom he worked unite in saying that he was a 
careful and competent employe, never shirking a dangerous duty and 
often assuming tasks which did not really belong to him.  He had many 
friends among the young men of this city and was an active member of 
the Young Men's Democratic club.  St. John's Literary and Benevolent 
society loses one of its best members by his untimely death.  On all 
sides expressions of sorrow and sympathy were heard for the family in 
their sudden bereavement and the announcement of his death will be a 
shock to many of his acquaintances.
  His grief-stricken parents - Bernard and Matilda O'Connor, of No. 704 
Eighth street, and three brothers - John, employed as a brakeman in the 
yard; Charles and Frank - survive to mourn the death of a son who was 
dutiful and also a kind and considerate brother.  The funeral will take 
place from the residence of the parents at half-past 8 o'clock on 
Monday morning to proceed to St. Mark's Catholic chapel, of which the 
deceased was a consistent member, where at 9 o'clock services will be 
held.  At the conclusion of the services the funeral cortege will 
proceed to St. John's cemetery, where the interment will be made.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Saturday, January 10, 1891