OBIT: Frank SHAFER, 1903, Duncansville, 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/ _________________________________________ RESULTED FATALLY While thawing out dynamite at the fire in his shanty at 9 o'clock on Saturday morning, Frank Shafer, an Austrian laborer employed by H. S. Kerbaugh & Co., incorporated, on the work of rebuilding the New Portage railroad near Duncansville, was fatally injured by one of the sticks exploding. Shafer was 24 years old and has been working at Duncansville ever since the work began there. It has been a common practice among the workmen to thaw out the dynamite when it is frozen. Great care must be taken or an explosion will occur. Shafer had both legs below the knee blown off by the force of the explosion, hurling him through the shanty door. He was picked up by his fellow workmen, who sent him to the hospital at Altoona. When he was admitted it was found that he could not live. He was made as comfortable as possible until 4:30 Saturday afternoon when he died. Shafer was an Austrian. His face was badly burned. No one else was injured but the shanty was badly wrecked. Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, Pa., Friday, January 16, 1903