OBIT: Porter W. McPHERRAN, 1896, Spruce Creek, Huntingdon County, PA

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INSTANTLY KILLED.
Conductor Porter W. McPherran Thrown Under an Engine at the Depot.

  A distressing accident occurred at the Tyrone depot of the 
Pennsylvania railroad at about half-past twelve o'clock Sunday morning.  
Porter Wilson McPherran, an old railroader, who was conductor of a 
middle division extra freight, engine 1567 and cabin 90134, lost his 
life.  C. N. Ross was engineer and D. G. Stewart fireman.
  The train was in charge of Mr. McPherran and stopped at the telegraph 
tower east of the Tyrone depot for orders, upon the receipt of which 
the train started.  As Conductor McPherran boarded the engine at a 
point where the fence of the depot yard commences, possibly not 
noticing the fence, and while yet on the engine step in a stooping 
position, he struck the fence post with his head and was thrown under 
the engine wheels and crushed before the train could be stopped.  He 
was soon removed from his fatal position, but life was extinct, death 
being instantaneous.  He was removed to the depot operating room and 
later in the morning the remains were taken in charge by undertakers 
Burley and Graham.  Coroner T. S. McCartney was notified and came to 
Tyrone at 12.30 and empanelled the following jury of inquest: T. S. 
McIntyre, foreman, J. J. Miller, W. H. Flenner, A. W. Beyer, H. W. 
McCartney and D. T. Caldwell.  After viewing the remains and hearing 
the evidence of Engineer Ross and Fireman Stewart and Harry Oakwood and 
William Eschbach, of the night shifting crew, the following verdict was 
rendered: "Death was caused by attempting to get on the engine of his 
train while in motion and was struck by an end post of yard fence and 
thrown under the train and was purely accidental."
  John McPherran of Harrisburg, a brother of the deceased, came to 
Tyrone Sunday afternoon and took charge of the remains, which were 
prepared for burial and taken to Spruce Creek on Sea Shore ex, Monday 
morning.  The funeral took place from his late home Tuesday afternoon 
at 1 o'clock.  Interment in Franklinville cemetery.
  Porter W. McPherran was the son of Dr. Adam McPherran, deceased, and 
owned and lived at the old homestead, at No. 1 bridge, near Spruce 
Creek.  He was about 50 years of age.  He was never married, and is 
survived by two brothers and one sister, Professor W. Scott McPherran, 
of Pittsburg; John P., a Middle Division passenger conductor of 
Harrisburg, and Mrs. Harriet June, of Denver, Col.  A sister, Mrs. Dr. 
Beam, met death in the Johnstown flood.  Dr. McPherran died about 17 
years ago, and it is about 14 years since the mother of the unfortunate 
man died.

Tyrone Herald, Tyrone, Pa., September 17, 1896