OBIT: Blair MINGLE, 1918, Birmingham, Huntingdon County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Sharon Miller
<shabodeho@aol.com> 

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TRACKWALKER ON PENNSY KILLED
Blair Mingle, of Birmingham, Victim of Fatal Accident

  On his arrival at Union Furnace early last Friday, John Nelson, a 
track foreman for the Pennsylvania railroad, reported that the body of 
a man had been found along the tracks just west of Birmingham station, 
word being sent to the Tyrone offices.  On further investigation, the 
victim was found to be Blair Mingle, of Birmingham, a track walker on 
Subdivision number 55.  
  The mangled body was found between number 2 and number 3 tracks at a 
point forty feet west of Birmingham station.  An investigation that 
morning definitely figured out as to how the unfortunate man had met 
his death and the approximate time when the accident had occurred.  Mr. 
Mingle, as night watchman had a beat on number 1 track coming west.  He 
had registered at his clock at Birmingham station at 7.50 last night, 
then, leaving his lantern in the station, he proceeded to cross the 
tracks at the baggage crossing forty feet to the west, his purpose 
being to meet the westbound passenger train due at 8.34 o'clock, this 
being in his line of duty. 
  When the body was found it was discovered that his watch had stopped  
at 8.03 o'clock, and this was undoubtedly the time that he was struck.  
A high-class freight train, extra number 297, eastbound on number 2 
track, passed FR block station at Tyrone Forges at 7.57 p.m., and its 
time at Birmingham was just about 8.03, so that the indubitable 
evidence is that the unfortunate man was struck by the engine of this 
train.  No one was aware of the accident, however until the body was 
found early this morning.  The remains were brought to Tyrone and were 
taken to Samuel Graham's undertaking rooms to be prepared for burial.   
Coroner W. T. Blackburn and Deputy Coroner M. H. Neaffer, of Altoona, 
viewed them there, and after some inquiry, decided that the fatality 
was entirely accidental and that an inquest was not necessary.  
  Blair Mingle was the son of George and Rebecca Mingle, both deceased, 
and he had been a lifelong resident of Birmingham.  He was born in 
1871, and consequently was 42 years of age.  A sad feature of the 
tragedy is that his family, consisting of his wife and two children, 
were at Asbury Park, whither they had gone for a brief outing.  Besides 
this family, the deceased is also survived by six brothers two sisters, 
as follows: Samuel, of Johnsonburg; Joseph, of State College; Harry, of 
Nealmont; Amos, of Bellwood; Robert, of Birmingham; Mrs. Annie 
Heberling, of Tyrone; Mrs. Mary Waite and Jacob Mingle, of Etna.

Tyrone Daily Herald, Tyrone, Pa., August 13, 1918, page 1