OBIT: Samuel Mummert, 1916, Hanover, York County, PA

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SECTION HAND KILLED

SAMUEL MUMMERT WAS STRUCK BY ENGINE ON W. M. TRACK

Fatal Accident Occurred on Tuesday While He Was Engaged in Picking Grass From 
Roadbed – Aged 35 Years – Leaves a Widow.

While picking grass along the Western Maryland tracks, opposite the Keystone 
wire cloth factory, East End, Samuel Mummert, of New Baltimore, a section hand, 
was struck by a passenger train and instantly killed about 9:30 o’clock Tuesday  
morning, July 12.

The section hands under Track Foreman Ezra Mummert, a brother of the dead man, 
and assistant foreman Emanuel Zartman, began picking the grass from the roadbed, 
East of Middle Street, that morning.

At the approach of passenger train No. 38, in charge of George Maurath, of 
Baltimore, all of the men left the work and stood alongside the embankment 
except the unfortunate young man, who kept on with the work, not heeding the 
whistle of the engine, though it is the opinion of the other hands that Mummert 
saw the approaching train.  The pilot of the engine struck him on the head, 
throwing the body a distance of six feet, causing a fracture of the skull and 
dislocation of the bones of the neck.

The train was going at a slow rate of speed and was brought to a standstill 
within a hundred feet of where the tragedy took place.

The deceased held several blades of grass in his right hand, which he had 
evidently reached for when he was struck by the engine.

Dr. J. H. Bittinger, the company’s physician, was called and after an 
examination stated that Mummert’s death was instantaneous.  The body was removed 
to the morgue of W. Bair’s Sons, funeral directors, where it was prepared for 
burial.  This afternoon the remains were taken to his late home in New 
Baltimore.

The deceased was about 35 years old, was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Mummert, 
of Blooming Grove, who survive.  About eight years ago he was married to Miss 
Mazie Hershey, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Hershey, of Ridge avenue, who 
survives; also the following brothers and sisters:  Mrs. Ellsworth Boart, of 
Locust street; Mrs. Charles Leese, of near Sherman’s church; Ezra Mummert, of 
Fair avenue; Harry Mummert, of Marburg; Aaron Mummert, of Fair avenue; John 
Mummert, residing along the Westminster road, and Daniel Mummert, of York.

It will be recalled that his father, Daniel Mummert, fell from the roof of his 
barn at Blooming Grove, about eight weeks ago, sustaining severe internal 
injuries, from which he has not fully recovered.

Funeral Thursday, July 13, services at the house at 9 a.m., Rev. M. J. Roth of 
Trinity Reformed church and Rev. George E. Sheffer, of the West Manheim Lutheran 
charge, officiating.  Interment at Dubs church.

The Hanover Herald – Saturday, July 15, 1916

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Hanover - Struck by the locomotive of a western bound passenger train on the 
Western Maryland railroad at this place at ? o'clock this morning, Samuel 
Mummert, thirty-five years old, a section hand, was instantly killed as he 
stooped to pick grass from between the rails.  The man evidently failed to 
notice or hear the approaching train.  Coroner Pius Jones, of York, came to this 
place this afternoon and after conducting an investigation deemed an inquest 
unnecessary.  Mummert, whose home was in Hanover, was a member of a gang engaged 
in cleaning away weeds and grass from the right of way, at the east end of the 
town.  At the approach of the train from Baltimore, the other section hands 
stepped aside.  They noticed Mummert continuing at his task but took for granted 
that he had heard the train and would leap aside before it reached him.  
They were horrified to see the pilot strike him, hurling his body six feet.  
He alighted on his head and was dead when picked up, his neck having evidently 
been broken.  Mummert was a married  man, but had no children.  His father and 
mother, Mr. And Mrs. Daniel Mummert, reside at Bloominggrove, near Hanover.  His 
father has not yet completely recovered from injuries sustained about eight 
weeks ago when he fell from a barn roof.  He is also survived by five brothers 
and two sisters.  These are:  Daniel, Jr., of York; John, near Hanover; Harry, 
of Marburg; Aaron and Ezra, and Mrs. Ellsworth Boart, of Hanover, and Mrs. 
Charles Lease, of near Sherman's church, West Manheim township.

The Gazette - Wednesday, July 12, 1916