OBIT: Harvey WALTERS, 1876, Tyrone, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by MS Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _________________________________________ On Friday morning week a locomotive exploded on the Tyrone and Clearfield railroad, near Sandy Ridge, killing Joseph Campbell, the engineer; John Shannon, the flagman, and William Miller, a brakeman, and badly scalding Harvey Walters, the fireman, who has since died. All the killed were married men and leave wives and families, Campbell and Miller, residing at Tyrone, and Shannon near Bald Eagle Furnace. The Register, Hollidaysburg, Pa., Wednesday, April 12, 1876 FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT. - A LOCOMOTIVE EXPLODES, KILLS THREE MEN AND FATALLY WOUNDS A FOURTH. - At half past seven o'clock on Friday morning of last week, a terrible and heart-rending accident occurred at Sandy Ridge, on the line of the Tyrone and Clearfield Railroad, in Centre county, some sixteen miles north of this place. The coal trains which pass over the mountain are made up at Osceola, consisting of from twenty to thirty cars and three engines, one of the latter in front of the train and the other two in the rear as "pushers." The locomotives and train of empty cars leave Tyrone in the morning at twenty minutes past four o'clock, and proceed to Osceola, where they make up a full train to bring down this side of the mountain, by hauling it to the other side in sections. On the morning in question, the train to which engines 91 and 39 were attached as "pushers," had made one trip up the other side of the mountain, and as they were passing the switch leading to Miller & Sons fire brick works at Sandy Ridge, on their second trip, 91 exploded, instantly killing engineer James Campbell, brakeman, William Miller, flagman, John Shannon, and very seriously if not fatally injuring Harvey Walters, fireman. The train was moving at the rate of ten or twelve miles an hour when the accident occurred, and 91 was in her place between the cars and engine 39. The fire-box of the steam apparatus or boiler gave way at the left side, the crown-sheet falling in. The engine, a monstrous mass of iron, of tremendous weight, was raised bodily above the top of the cars, shot forward about seventy-five feet, turning end over end twice in the distance and falling with the front end south, in the same direction the train was going, alighting on the second car from the rear of the train, destroying it, and coming down upon her wheels, the fire-box resting on the side of the cut (?). Of course the engine and the two cars which it struck were completely wrecked, but no further damage to property was done, excepting the tearing up of a rail or so of the track, but three men were instantly ushered into eternity, leaving families to mourn the loss of kind and industrious husbands and fathers, and the life of a fourth almost, if not altogether taken. James Campbell, the engineer, was, at the time of the explosion, sitting in his place, keeping a lookout to the front and eating his breakfast. He was blown from the engine to the top of the embankment at the side of the road, a distance of about 20 feet. Soon after alighting he was approached by Wm. Cox, who, on nearing him, discovered that he, Campbell, raised up on one arm, as he supposed to speak, but fell back dead, without uttering a word. Mr. Campbell was a young man about 26 years of age, resided on Logan street, in the 4th ward of Tyrone borough, where he leaves a wife and three children to mourn their loss in his untimely death. He had been a fireman on the Bald Eagle Valley Local freight train prior to his taking an engine on the Clearfield road, a week or so before his death. He owned a property in Bellefonte, his place of residence before locating in Tyrone. William Miller, the brakeman, it is supposed by those who should be best acquainted with the facts, was also seated on the engine eating his breakfast. He was found among the debris, and wedged beneath the cylinder of the engine, which was torn from its place by the explosion. He was badly cut and crushed about the head, face and breast. Mr. Miller was a man of some 35 or 36 years of age, and lived on his own property, near Vail station, three miles north of this place, with his family, consisting of a wife and six children. He was an industrious and reliable man, rarely, if ever, losing a day's work. Fearing an accident would befall him, his wife had frequently implored him to quit railroading, which he had consented to do in a couple of weeks, at which time the money due him would be sufficient to liquidate debts contracted in the purchase of 25 acres of ground and building a house thereon. It was his purpose to turn his attention wholly to making a living for his family from his little farm. John Shannon, the flagman, it is believed, was also on the engine eating his breakfast. He was tossed into the air, to the height of a hundred feet or more. Of course his body was lifeless before reaching the ground. A scar on his forehead was the only visible mark about him. He died with a bite of his morning meal in his mouth. He was about 43 years of age and was a resident of East Tyrone. He lived here and railroaded, for the last six or eight years, and was a reliable and industrious man. He leaves a family consisting of a wife and seven children, to mourn his sad, sad death. Harvey Walters, the fireman, was in the act of shoveling coal into the fire box, when the explosion occurred. His shovel was wrenched from his hands and landed away a distance of some two hundred feet, and himself tossed out of the cab, and back upon the tender a distance of ten or twelve feet. His injuries consist of a badly cut and bruised head, and terribly scalded breast and body generally. Mr. Walters was similarly injured near the same place, some five years since, but survived his terrible injuries. But for his determined will and strong constitution he would have died at that time. After lingering in great agony until yesterday (Wednesday) forenoon, between 10 and 11 o'clock, he calmly and quietly passed away. He suffered intensely, but at times was quite cheerful, expressing his belief that he would ultimately recover, and at other times despondent and giving up all hopes. He leaves a wife and two children. On receiving the news, Superintendent Blair, train master Wood and Dr. J. M. Gemmill, Jr., with a force of workmen, proceeded in a special train to the scene of the disaster, to clear the track and bring the dead bodies and the injured man, Mr. Harvey Walters, to Tyrone. The dead bodies were taken to J. H. Burley's undertaking establishment, dressed, and placed in coffins and taken to the homes they had left in good health on the morning of the same day. Walters was carried to his residence on Main street, in the 4th ward, where he received the most tender and careful attention possible. On Sunday forenoon a special train carried the bodies of Shannon and Miller (together with a large number of people) to Bald Eagle, where they were interred, Rev. Wilson officiating. In the afternoon of the same day the funeral of Campbell took place from the M. E. Church, this place, of which he was a member, Rev. Wilson preaching an appropriate sermon. His corpse was interred in the Cemetery on the hill. Walters will be buried this (Thursday) afternoon at 3 o'clock. The Masonic and Knights of Pythias fraternities and the Tyrone Fire Company will attend the funeral. The remains will be escorted to the U. B. Church, where services will be held, after which the Knights of Pythias will take charge of the body and conduct the burial services at the grave. We have been very careful in our search for correct information relating to this terrible affair, and believe the above to be as near a correct report of the accident as can be secured. Esquire Jones, acting as Coroner, summoned a jury on Saturday and held an inquest over the remains of the dead men. The inquest was continued on Monday and Tuesday, and several witnesses called and examined. The jury rendered a verdict on Wednesday morning, that the men came to their death by the explosion of a defective boiler. The crowded condition of our columns prevents a review of the testimony before the jury. The testimony of the two experts, Mr. Carothers, master mechanic, and Mr. Major, from Huntingdon, differ so materially, that we have no solution of the cause of the explosion to advance. Tyrone Herald, Tyrone, Pa., Thursday, April 6, 1876