OBIT:  KEEL, Conrad; 1907; Ebensburg, Cambria Cnty., PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich

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Cambria Freeman
Ebensburg, Pa.
Friday, 30 Aug 1907
Volume 41, Number 35


Killed by Car in Walnut Grove 
Man Sleeping on Tracks Run Over by Street Car
Met Terrible Death


About midnight Saturday Conrad Keel, a well known stone 
mason of Johnstown, was run over and instantly killed by a 
street car near the  [word faded] of the Dale line in 
Walnut Grove.  His head was terribly crushed and his body 
badly bruised by being dragged some distance before the car 
could be stopped.

When seen a short time before, Keel had been perfectly 
sober and it is supposed that being tired from a long days' 
work, he sat down on the tracks to await a car and fell 
asleep in that perilous position.

The car was in charge of Motorman John Shaver and Conductor 
Charles Goughnour, both of whom were completely unnerved by 
the accident.  The vicinity of the loop was very dark and 
was particularly on Saturday night.  The motorman never 
noticed the body on the track and did not know that an 
accident had occurred until he felt something dragging 
under the motorbox.

He stopped as quickly as possible and going around to the 
side of the car, struck a match and saw the crushed remains 
underneath.  It was impossible to remove the body, except 
by jacking up the car and a telephone call was sent for a 
special car, which, with a physician on board, arrived in 
record breaking time.  The car was jacked up and the body 
removed.  It was seen at once that Keel was dead and it is 
believed the death was instantaneous, as his head, as 
stated, was badly crushed.  The remains were placed on the 
special car and taken to Pendry's undertaking establishment 
where they were prepared for burial. The funeral was 
Tuesday afternoon with interment in Sandyvale cemetery.

Four brothers – Charles, John, Henry and Otto and one 
sister, Lizzie, wife of John Rice, all reside in Walnut 
Grove.

Coroner W. B. Prothero viewed the remains on Monday morning 
and decided that an inquest was unnecessary.  Nothing has 
developed which would place the responsibility upon any 
other than the [remainder of paragraph faded].