OBIT: William LUMUS, 1880, Mount Union, Huntingdon County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB

Copyright 2010.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm 
__________________________________________

TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.
A 15-year-old Boy Ground Up in the Yard.

  Last night at about 8 o'clock a terrible accident took place in the 
company's yard between the middle division round house and the Ninth 
street crossing.  A lad 15 years of age, named William Lumus, a 
resident of Mount Union, was ground to pieces beneath the wheels of a 
shifting engine, No. 84.  It appears that last Saturday the boy came to 
Altoona for the purpose of visiting his uncle, John Long, a fireman on 
the middle division.  As Long's engine was pulling out last evening the 
boy jumped on it apparently for the purpose of going back to his home.  
They had proceeded down the track a short distance when they stopped 
and Long jumped off to oil up.  Presently the boy jumped off too, and 
alighted right in front of shifter No. 84, which was running by on the 
next track.  He either fell on the track or was struck by the shifter 
and fell.  The wheels cut off his whole head except the face, taking 
the brains out clean and scattering them over the ties.  His right arm 
was also run over and cut so that it hung only by a shred.  The body 
was picked up by the uncle and laid on a stretcher which was brought.  
It was then carried into the despatcher's office, near Twelfth street.  
The brains were picked up and laid with the body.  Last night as it lay 
in the office the features looked calm, as if death had been 
instantaneous.  A neat suit of clothes enclosed the form.  Large 
numbers of railroad employes flocked in to see the boy.  He is a step 
son of James Nolan, of Mount Union, and was employed in the railroad 
block tower at that point, learning telegraphing.  He had been there 
only about four months when  so suddenly his young life was cut short.  
The body was taken in charge by Undertaker Tipton, who prepared it for 
burial.  It will be sent home this morning.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Tuesday, November 16, 1880

Inquest on the Body of Young Lumus.

  An inquest was held by Coroner Humes on the body of young Lumus, the 
boy who was killed in the Altoona yard on Monday night.  The jury 
brought in a verdict of accidental death.  The only additional fact 
developed in the testimony was that when the boy jumped off the engine 
his uncle told him to be careful as the shifter was coming.  He turned 
around right in front of it and was knocked down.  The body was sent 
home yesterday morning.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Wednesday, November 17, 1880

1880 Mount Union, Huntingdon County census -
James Noland, 40 
Elizabeth Noland, 32 
William Lomas, 15 
Harry Lomas, 8