OBIT: Peter SHAY, 1894, Lebanon, Lebanon County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Nancy Lorz

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MET WITH A FATAL ACCIDENT
PETER J. SHAY RUN OVER BY AN ORE CAR

  Peter J. Shay, a well-known railroader, met with a fatal accident this 
morning on the Cornwall & Lebanon railroad, at Miners' Village, where he was 
run over by a freight train and dragged a distance of 30 feet.
  Every morning the passenger train leaving this city at 6:30 o'clock is 
followed by a freight train, which includes a number of Colebrook ore cars.  
As usual the train left this morning at 6:50 o'clock, drawn by engine No. 4, 
Robert Malsberger, engineer, and Cornwall was reached about 7: 15 o'clock.  
The Colebrook furnaces require all their cars, full and empty, to be 
weighed, and there were some cars this trip which had not yet been weighed.  
When Miners' Village was reached, at about 7:30 o'clock, they commenced 
weighing the cars, Peter Shay, who was in charge of the ore cars, attending 
to this work.
  He was uncoupling one car and Samuel White, another, when Shay made what 
is called a mis-cut.  In that unfortunate moment he was thrown from the car 
and fell on the track.  Before the train could be stopped and in sight of 
his fellow workmen the car passed over his head crushing it and also 
breaking his right arm.  Horror-stricken his friends came running to the 
rescue, but, alas, it was too late, although they hoped that it might not be 
so and some thought him still alive.  They quickly despatched word to Dr. 
George Gleim, at Cornwall, who responded at once.  The doctor after making 
an examination said death had been instantaneous.  Apart from the crushed 
head and broken arm the body was not mangled.
  Arrangements were at once made to bring the body to this city.  Word was 
sent to the general office and they notified D. A. Frantz to meet the train 
and take the body in charge.  At the scene of the accident there was 
considerable excitement.  It was impossible to put the body in the caboose, 
because he was such a large man, and it became necessary to go to Mt. Gretna 
to get a baggage car into which the remains were placed.  There was some 
delay in getting to Lebanon, but at 9:15 o'clock Walnut street was reached, 
where D. A. Frantz's team was in readiness and the body was conveyed to the 
home of the unfortunate man, No. 1512 Walnut street.  Here the mother and 
children gathered around the lifeless body of the husband and father who 
only a few hours before had left the house strong, rugged and healthy.  The 
grief of this family may well be imagined when they learned of the sad news, 
and yet more when they beheld him whom they loved an inanimate corpse.
  Both at the railroad and the house, in spite of the drizzling rain, a 
crowd had assembled, composed principally of women.  Mrs. Charlotte 
McCaulley soon afterwards appeared and made preparations to lay out the 
dead.
  Peter J. Shay was well known in this city and had many friends.  He was 
engaged at railroading a number of years.  For a long time he resided on 
Cumberland street near the West End mills, but a year or two ago moved to 
his present residence.  He served as constable at one time in one of the 
wards, and was also an officer at the Fisher opera house, where on special 
occasions he served as special policeman.  He was aged 53 years.  A wife and 
4 children, the oldest 23 and the youngest 2 years, survive him.  Deceased 
was a member of Lebanon Lodge, No. 121; a member of the Firemen's mutual aid 
association, which has a membership of 319 and the widow will at once 
receive $319, the money being always ready in the treasury to meet payments 
promptly, and he was also a member of Post No. 494, G.A. R.  Deceased was a 
veteran of the late war and bore marks on his body received while in the 
service of his country, and was a good soldier.  He was an uncle of Miss 
Katie Rise, school teacher.
  The sad, unfortunate death of Mr. Shay will be lamented by many.  He was 
of a cheerful, good-natured disposition, a kind husband and father, who 
provided well for his family and upon these this blow falls the hardest.  
Deep sympathy is expressed for the grief-stricken wife and sorrowing 
children and relatives.
  The deceased during his lifetime frequently expressed a desire to be 
buried with military honors in the event of his death, and it is likely that 
his wish in this respect will be carried out by his family.  The time for 
holding the funeral services has not yet been agreed upon.    (The rest is 
missing)

Lebanon Daily News, January 17, 1894