OBIT:  COLLINS, Peter; 1909; Cambria Cnty., PA

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Cambria Freeman
Ebensburg, Pa.
Friday, 22 Jan 1909
Volume 43, Number 4


Peter Collins Dead 
Aged Railroad Builder and Pioneer Passed Away at Bellefonte

After an illness of a long time, Peter Collins, a railroad 
builder with an international reputation, passed away at 
Bellefonte several days ago at the age of 78 years.  He 
died at the home of his sister, Miss Sarah Collins.  The 
funeral was held Monday morning at the Summit, a number of 
former associates of Mr. Collins being pallbearers.

Peter Collins was born in Summit in 1840.  The family lived 
in Ebensburg for years. With his brother, Thomas Collins, 
now deceased, he assisted in building the main line of the 
PRR and several of its branches. In May 1878 the brother 
and the firm of Mackey, Scott &  Company sent men to Brazil 
to build 140 miles of railroad along the Maderia river. 
They were ruined by the failure of the European capitalists 
who were financing the project.  While building the road, 
Peter Collins and George Gray were attacked by Indians and 
an arrow penetrated one of Mr. Collins' lungs.  He was 
never able to work after that and the injury finally caused 
his death.