Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-01-20
Death Of Rsv. J. G. Archer.


place on Monday morning, January Ilth
on his way to St Louis for his family, who
had gone thitser on visit to Mrs As
mother. Mr. Archer reached Pittsburg il
tine for the three o clock Tuesday morning
mail train to st. Louis Pan Handle routel
upon which he took passage The train con
sisted of one mail and one express car. two
passenger coaches and one sleeping can
H-the sleeping car being the last attached
TO the train The only passengers in the
sleeping ear were Mr. Archer who had m
dressed and gone to bed, and six other gen
uemen with the conductor-seven in all.
The tram proceeded to within about five
hundred yards Of the Cork Run ''fill." " a
lew miles below Pittsburr where it was
signalled and stopped by the watchman.
who informed the conductor that there was
a small land slide short distance ahead
which had not been removed. and that he
w0nli have 10 take the side track to get
around the slide The side track had
been csosei before by trains, and believing
1t to bc secure, they started over. The en-
slne, mail anl express cars and passenger
coaches passed over safely, but when the
si eping car got fairly on the I'll it left
The track, AMI rolled down The embankn cut
into the creek The fill IS about 60 feet
! perpendicular, and the ear turned over and
( over, aud was literally broken to atoms The
engine was at once stopped, and the con
ductor and others FASTENED to the wreck
aud began to search for the dead and in
! juEed. They soon found the bodies of two
men who had been killed. and four others
who were more or less injured, aud belicv-
Ing they had all, proceeded on their journey
TO Mansfield, where they left the wounded
IN care OF physicians. Shortly after, some
men, who were sent tothe scene Of disaster.
discovered tie body of third man living in
the creek, which proved to be that of
Rev. Archer. The body being identified
1t was at once sent forward on its wav to
this place, but was stopped at Tyrone, by
several members of Mr.. AS congregation
. who had started on their way to the scene
Of disaster, upon learning of their pastors
death. The relatives of the deceased, near
Churchville, Hartford county, Maryland
were telegraphed to, at once, and the body
has been taken thither for interment The
sad occurrence has cast a deep gloom over
this entire community
Rev. JAMES G. ARCHER, was about 2s
years of age, and born in Hartford county.
Maryland. He graduated at Dickinson
college, Carlisle, Penna, in 1861, at the
mead OF his class. He then spent one wear
IN teaching, at the expiration of which time
ne entered the Princeton Theological Semi
nary. to prepare himself for the ministry,
and graduatedin the Spring of 1865. About
this time the Presbyterian congregation in
this place was without pastor, and, al
though they had been visited by several
ministers Of the church, none gave general
satisfaction. Their attention was at length
directed tProvidentially it would SEEM to
Rev, \. lie visited, and preached for the
congregation before he had completed his
theological course Of study. The congre-
cation at once recognized in him their
shepherd, and had no difficulty in deciding
the question of extending him call That
cal! was accepted, and he came among them,
as their pastor, shortly after leaving the |
Seminary Under his ministrations the !
congr'g 'iion experienced a gracious out
pouring OF the Spirit, through which wc
have reason to believe, many precious souls
were born into the kingdom of Christ. He /
was greatly, and deseryedly beloved. not on |
ly by his own immediate membership, hat
by the community in general How could |
1t We'll be otherwise, if disinterested love. |
meehncss. and Christian simplicity of man |
ner, as well as earnest devotion to the /
cause OF Christ, can endear Christian /
minister to his fellow believers, and incite |
the admiration Of the world As a result. /
we presume, in great MEASURE, OF the ar
dent attachment which the congregation .
bad formed TO their young and devoted pas
tor, they have erected, At great cost, one
OF the finest churches in Western Pennsyl,
Van'a And doubtless, he looked forward
with some considerable degree OF pleasure
to the time when he would be permitted 70
occupy It's pulpit; but God ordered other
wise, and he now sleeps in the tomb.
During the week Of PRAYER" (which
closed on Saturday evening previous to his /.
starting on Monday On his pcailous Journey. /
and which resulted faeally, he appeared +
as was noticed by his friends. more earnest
;han ever in his devotion to the cause of
Christ His countenauce was radiant with
Christian love, and bis zeal in seeking 70
promote harmony Of feeling among his fel-
low Christians, seemed scarcely to know anv
limit. He had proposed, for discussion on
tha, night, (the last evening Of the meetipcl
ti,e subject OF entire personal conservation
TO the service of Christ, and took part IN
the discussion, and preached on the snliect
on Sabbath morning, TO his own congregation.
with marked unction
There are circumstances connected with
this sad dlspensation Of God 5 providence.
Of very painful character-his having
been separated from his family for some
time his beingoa the way to reioin them.
aud the sudden and distressing manner Of
his death. May this sad dispaasatian Of
the providence of Almighty God, our Heav-
eDy Father, be sanctited IN the s,,ir;,,,I