The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-07-29
KILLED on rHE 5. 8 c. R. 3.
Two Men Meet Death while Return
Ing from g Sunday Excursion.

mangled by the wheels OF an excursion train
three miles north of lockwood on the
Somerset & Cambria Railroad about 90 clock
Sunday night.
Expressman Milton Pile. Of this place, was
thrown from the platform Of a car into a
ditch by the side Of the track. He was
badly cut and bruised about the head and
shoulders, but was able to walk from the
station to his home on the arrival of the
train an hour later, but not without assist
ance.
At O'Clock Sunday morning 1850 ex-
cursionists were on board II passenger cars
at Johns;own en- route for Cumberland. Nd.
The cars were made up into two sec
tons The first, drawn by two engines, con-
sisted of thirteen cars. The second section
consisted Of an engine and one passenger
car. A number of passengers were picked
up at every station between Johnstown and
Somerset Two additional cars were at
tached to the second section at the Somerset
station and were soon filed with excursion
lists from this place On the arrival Of the
train at lockwood two more coaches were
attached to the second section Stops were
made at all stations between there and Cum
berland, and when the two trains arrived in
the Queen City at noon between eighteen and
nineteen hundred excursionisis alighted
from the cars.
The freedom Of the city was granted the
excursionists by the authorities, and soon
after their arrival the great mass of visitors
separated into little parties and visited the
different places of interest. From all ae-
counts the saloon keepers Of the place kept
open house, and before the day was over
many of the excursionists became intoxi-
Gated.
The first section of the excursion left
Cumberland on the retur trip at $50 p. N.
1t was made up of thirteen coaches and was
drawn by three Locomotives.
Shortly after the train left lockwood
a disturbance was created in the second car
of she train by persons who had been drink
ing. Policeman Kelly, who IS said to have
been under the influence Of liquor, drew his
revolver and brandished it in the faces Of
number Of persons, and caused the greatest
excitement and terror among the passengers.
A quarrel was started near the rear door
of the car, between Kelly and another Johns
town man, when the conductor of the train,
John Ward, tried TO quiet them. Meyers
was endeavoring to assist the conductor to
get the quarreliDg men into different cars,
and succeeded in getting Kelly on to the
platform Kelly insisted on going back into
the car, and in the scuffie that followed be
fell over the hand-rail between the two cars.
Both Meyers and the conductor had hold of
him, the former by the arms and the latter
by the hip. Suddenly Kelly threw up his
right hand, with his revolver in il, when the
conductor, fearing that he would shoot him,
released his hold, and stepping into the car,
pulled the bell rope. AT the same moment
some one in the car pulled the rope govern
ing the automatic air brake. The rear end
of the train stopped with jar that threw
many passengers from their seats The
coupling broke between the cars where the
struggle was taking place, and as the engines
and two cars dashed ahead, Kelly was
thrown under the wheels, and Meyers was
dragged down with him
Milton Pile, who was standing in the door
ofthe car, was caught by Meyers as he fell,
and was thrown headlong into ditch by the
side of the track. The greatest excitement
prevailed on the train. No one knew just
what had occurred, and nearly all the pass
engers climbed of the cars. Groans were
heard proceeding from the ditch, and the
conductor and brakeman soon found, with
the light OF their lanterns, that they were
caused by Milton Pile. He was gathered up
and carried into the car his head a mass Of
bruises, and his right leg badly sprained. A
iagman was sent to the rear to signal the
second section, and the examination was
continued.
Under the trucks Of the fourth car Police
man Kelly was found. His scalp was torn
from his head, and the head itself was al
most entirely severed from his body, the
wheels of the trucks having passed over his
neck. His left arm was torn almost oil, and
one leg was broken. SO firmly was he held
between the wheels that il required the uni
ted strength Of half dozen men TO release
him. Half way back under the car Meyers
body was found. His head, too, was almost
severed from his body, as was his left arm,
while his right leg was broken below the
knee. Death was instantaneous in both
cases.
The body of Kelly was recognized by
number of his friends and Meyers brother,
who had been with him all day, identified
him.
II was at least twenty minutes before the
engine and released cars returned 10 the de
tached section
The bodies were placed in the baggage car
and brought to Somerset where they were
removed to the railway station house and
watch placed over them for the night.
Monday morning friends Of both the dead
men who had been with them on the excur
sian came TO Somerset for the purpose of
taking possession Of the remains. The
bodies were placed in boxes by undertaken
Coffroth and were shipped to their homes on
the noon train.
Meyers brother, a statwart looking young
fellow, was here Monday morning to look
after his brothers body. He was almost
heartbroken and ELECTED the sympathies of
all who witnessed his distress.
Meyers was q single man. Policeman
Kelly's wife and two or three children were
lost in the ficod Both men were highly
spoken of by their friends, and both were
strangers 10 one another.
TIE INQUEST.
Monday morning Esquire Noah Casebeer
empAneled jury to hold an inquest on the
bodies of the dead men. The jury was CON-
posed of the following residents Of this
borough: Edward Rhoads, Harvey NJ
Berkey, Esq, Jacob d. Sgank, George N.
Neff. VIM. B. Frease, and Samuel Shirer.
Childs Hill, Of .Johnsiown, was the first
witness called He testified that the two
Meyers boys, r. P. Gibson and himself had
been together on the excursion train. They
ali got into a car in the yard al Cumberland
and had secured seats before the crowd was
admitted TO the train. Before we came to
lockwood Kelly with whom Was scquaint-
ed came through the car and sat for about
twenty minutes on the arm ofmy seat talk
ing to me. He took one drink with US. He
said be was going to walk through the train
and leff US. After the train left lockwood
Meyers got up and said be was going 70