OBIT: Sigmund WIRTZ, 1905, Altoona, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _________________________________________ BRAKEMAN FATALLY INJURED. Tripped Over Switch Lamp Trying to Board an Engine at Fourth Street and Fell Under Wheels. Sigmund Wirtz of S. Fifth street, was fatally injured at 12:40 this afternoon in the railroad yard at Fourth street. He attempted to board the engine of an eastbound freight train and tripped over a switch lamp along the tracks, with the result that he fell under the wheels. Both legs were crushed and his skull was fractured. Fellow railroaders ran to his assistance and the ambulance was summoned. He died on the way to the hospital, a few minutes after the accident. The remains were subsequently taken to Undertaker Lafferty's morgue. Wirtz was a married man and was 24 years old. His wife was prostrated by the news of his sudden and tragic death. Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Friday, March 3, 1905, page 1 St. Mary's Cemetery, Altoona - Wirth, Sigmund, 1882-1905 http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/cemeteries/stmary-s-z.txt 1900 Altoona Ward 4, Blair County census - John Wut, 46 - There is an umlaut over the U in the census record and the Anglicization is probably be Wirt or Wirth. Frieda Wut, 47 Sigmund Wut, 18 Annie F. Wut, 16 Conrad Wut, 14 Ella B. Wut, 13 Frederick M. Wut, 10 1910 Altoona Ward 4, Blair County census - John Wirt, 56 Frieda Wirt, 58, 5 children, 4 living Frida M. Wirt, 19 Condrad J. Wirt, 24 Stephen Scheidegg, 25, son-in-law Elizabeth Scheidegg, 21, daughter John J. Scheidegg, 1 2/12, grandson