OBIT: James MARTENEY and Harry EARLY, 1948, Meyersdale, Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/
________________________________________________

JAMES MARTENEY and HARRY EARLY

  James Marteney, Meyersdale, and Harry Early, Meyersdale, R.D. 3, met tragic 
death in the cab of their milk tank truck when it collided with a tractor-truck 
ahead, about 4 a.m., Saturday, August 21.  The accident occurred a few miles 
north of Richmond, Va.  The milk truck burst into flames when the front part and 
cab was rammed in under the tractor-truck, and the two men trapped in the cab 
were burned to death.
  Marteney and Early were on their regular run, transporting milk from the Dairy 
Dale Milk, Inc., Meyersdale, to Newport News, Va.  One of a fleet of milk trucks 
owned by Norman Walker, Meyersdale, leaves each day on this run with about 3,500 
gallons of milk.  The two men usually traveled together and had made the trip 
many times.
  Leroy Brown, 26, Cape Charles, Va., driver of the trailer truck, was injured 
and treated in the Richmond hospital.
  The bodies of the Meyersdale men, burned almost past recognition, were brought 
home by the H. R. Konhaus ambulance and prepared for burial at the Konhaus 
Funeral Home.
  Funeral services for James Marteney were held at 1:30 Monday afternoon in the 
Meyersdale Church of the Brethren, conducted by the Rev. Dr. George L. 
Detweiler, Waynesboro, former pastor.
  Marteney, who was 44 years of age, was the son of Elias and Olive (Fike) 
Marteney, Beachley Street.  He is survived by his parents, a sister, Mrs. Emert 
Gnagey of Uniontown, and two brothers, Carl Marteney of Akron, O., and Simon 
Marteney, Meyersdale.
  Harry Early, 31 years of age, is the son of Harry Early and the late Minnie 
(Nicholson) Early.  He is survived by his wife, Mary Yutzy Early, and four small 
children, Laney, Nancy, Eileen and Arlene, the two latter being twins.
  Funeral services for Early were held Monday afternoon at 3:45 in the Hostetler 
Church of the Brethren, in charge of the pastor, the Rev. J. E. Jones, assisted 
by the Rev. Dr. Detweiler.  Interment of both men was made in Union Cemetery.
  Norman Walker, Chief of the Meyersdale Volunteer Fire Company, and owner of 
the Walker Milk Transportation Company, was ill in bed when news reached 
Meyersdale of the tragic wreck of the milk trucks in which two of his employees 
lost their lives.
  Early Friday evening, he suffered a nasal hemorrhage after carrying a crate of 
pop bottles to the basement.  Mrs. Walker, who had been out, on returning home 
found him lying on the basement floor in a semi-conscious condition.
  What at first appeared to be a serious condition responded to treatment 
recommended by his physician over the weekend, and Mr. Walker is again going 
about his affairs, and was able to attend the funerals of Early and Marteney on 
Monday afternoon.
  But on Saturday he was still quite ill and was not told of the truck accident 
until late Saturday night.  Then the shock of the news was buffed by the more 
immediate predicament of Dr. C. W. Stotler, whose car was stolen from in front 
of his office just a few minutes before he was ready to go to the Walker home to 
help Mrs. Walker break the tragic news to her husband.  Dr. Stotler had found 
other transportation to his patient's home.

Meyersdale Republican, August 26, 1948