The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-04-08
KILLED AT HUNTERS STATION.
Chas. Middaugh, a W. N. Y. & p. Brake
man, Meets Instant Death.

A fatal accident occurred at Hun.
ter's Station, three miles below this
place, on Thursday afternoon last, of
which the Oil City Blizzard gives the
following correct account:
"When freight train No. 80 arrived
from up the river at 6:10 o'clock
Thursday evening. about one hour
late, it brought down the almost head.
less body of Chas. Middaugh, the
front brakeman, who had been killed
at Hunters, Forest county, at a
o'clock. AT that point the freight
side tracks and waits for the passenger
train to pass which leaves here at half
past 3 o'clock. 1t was Middaugh's
duty as head brakeman to open the
switch and let the freight train in. He
did so aud got OF the train again, sig.
mailing to the engineer to 60 ahead.
He was last seen by the middle brake.
man, Dan Sullivan, and was al that
time Cd the train two or three cars
from the engine. The men in the
caboOse supposed that be had gone to
the engine so as to be at the head to
open the switch and let the freight out
when the passenger train passed, while
the men on the engine supposed that
he had gone back to the caboose. As
he was not at hand when the passenger
train passed, the engineer sent the
fireman to open the switch and the
train pulled out. Conductor Boman
was standing on the rear Of the ca.
boose and when within a few car
lengths from the lower opening of the
switch to the main track, saw the body
of Middaugh upon the ties. Exami.
nation showed that the head had been
almost severed from the body, hanging
by a single ligament. Otherwise the
body was little mutilated and in the
fatal fall appeared to have been
thrown in such a manner that the neck
and toes lay upon the rails. How the
accident occurred is mere conjecture.
The most plausible theory is that after
last seen by the middle brakeman
Middaugh went on toward the engine
to wait in the cab for the arrival of
} the passenger train, and that in jump.
ing from the box car adjoining to the
tender he fell and was killed as the
freight was pulling into the switch.
1t was in this manner that VIM. Sweet
was killed last Sunday night at War.
rem aud it was Sweets place hat Mid.
daugh had taken.
"The remains we're brought 10 Oil
City at the time noted and taken to
Paul's undertaking establishment,
where they we're dressed and placed in
a casket. Notice was sent by the Cor.
oner of Forest county that the remains
would have to be brought back to that
county and the inquest held there.
They were accordingly taken to Tic.
nesta at s o'clock this morning accom-.
panied by the crew of the train-F.
E. Boman, conductor; Dan. Sullivan,
middle brakeman; Dan, Mack, rear
brakeman; A. T. Havice, engineer,
and D. K%ightlluger, fireman. After
the inquest the body was brought back
to Oil City and taken on the IL
o'clock train to Cory, the former
home Of the deceased. 1t was accom-
panied by the young mans father who
came down at 8 o'clock Thursday
night and remained here until after
the inquest.
"Chas. Middaugh was about twenty.
four years of age aud leaves at Cory
a young wife, to whom he was mar
ried last Christmas, and a number of
relatives. He had been employed a
number of years at railroad work,
having started as yard clerk at Cory.
For some time he had been working
here as an extra brakeman and took,
as previously noted, the place made
vacant by the death of William
Sweet"
Coroner R~umberger's jury, consist.
ing of the following named citizens:
j. E. Hlllard, Foreman, w. w. Grove,
Frank Hunter, j. III Zones, l.. Full.
ton and Chas. r. Davis, rendered a
verdict in accordance with the facts
above given.
Warren Wrinkles.