OBIT: Ambrose and John Joseph O'DONNELL, 1946, of interest in Somerset County, 
PA 

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

Copyright 2008.  All rights reserved.
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Joint Funeral of O'Donnell Bros.

  Joint funeral services were held last Saturday afternoon in SS. Peter and Paul 
cathedral, Cumberland, Md., for the O'Donnell brothers, John Joseph and Ambrose, 
of Cumberland, who coincidentally were fatally injured by jumping or falling off 
a B & O westbound freight train at widely separated points in Somerset County, 
early last Thursday morning, brief mention of which was made in last week's 
Republican.
  The mother of the young men, Mrs. Margaret Weaver O'Donnell Twigg, said they 
told her about 9 o'clock Wednesday night that they were going to board a freight 
train in order to get a free ride to Pittsburgh to look for work.  They 
evidently succeeded in getting started toward their goal later that night, but 
rode instead to their death, owing to an unkind vicissitude of Fate.
  John Joseph was found at 4:20 a.m. Thursday, lying unconscious and fatally 
injured on the B & O tracks at the west end of Sand Patch tunnel.  He was placed 
aboard a train and brought to the Meyersdale station whence he was taken to the 
Hazel McGilvery Hospital, but was dead before his arrival there.
  The dead body of Ambrose was found at 6 a.m. beside the B & O tracks near the 
east portal of Brookes' tunnel about 25 miles west of Sand Patch.
  Dr. A. M. Uphouse of Stoystown, County Coroner, who investigated both deaths 
concluded that John Joseph died from loss of blood due to a badly mangled leg 
and numerous cuts and bruises about the body.  The death of Ambrose, the Coroner 
decided, was due to a severed arm and broken neck.
  In the absence of tangible evidence as to the exact manner in which the 
unfortunate brothers happened to meet their tragic death, it is surmised that 
John Joseph received his fatal injuries either by falling or jumping off the 
train on which they were riding as it was emerging from Sand Patch tunnel, and 
that Ambrose, probably dozing, did not notice the disappearance of his brother 
until some time later and that he lost his life by trying to get off the 
speeding train to go back and look for his missing brother.
  John was a World War II veteran, discharged six months ago after five years 
military service.  He served in Iceland and Europe with an anti-aircraft outfit.  
About two years ago, he suffered a back injury overseas and was brought to 
Walter Reed hospital by plane for treatment, and was hospitalized for six months 
as a result of the injury.  He was a widower and is survived by a young 
daughter, Margaret Irene.
  Besides their mother, the two deceased brothers are survived by their father, 
Bernard W. O'Donnell, Benton Harbor, Mich.; two brothers, Paul O'Donnell, 
Cumberland, and Bernard O'Donnell, Baltimore, and a sister, Mrs. Viola Corbin, 
Cumberland.

Meyersdale Republican, July 18, 1946