The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-04-24
SAD ENDING OF
A YOUNG LIFE.
ELDER R0BERT Ii. PATTON CRUSHED I'd
DEATH BYA & o. TRAIN.
His Desire to be Minister.-A Weak Voice
and Small Stature Interfere With
the Work he Loved.

Robert NJ. Patton, fourth son of the late
John w. Patton, which occurred Saturday
evening last.
The deceased was returning from Pitts
burg TO his home in this place, having
lefi that city atIP. NJ. on the Cumber-
land accommodation. After the train
had proceeded two miles east of Cassel-
man station his absence from the train
WAS noticed, when the conductor at once
sign2led the engineer 10 stop and run
back. The body OF the unfortunate young
man was found shor; distance from the
station. The last truck of the rear pas
senger coach had passed over his breast
and crushed the life from his body. The
body was not mangled, only few slight
scratches appearing on ii. The remains
were placed in the baggage ear when the
train continued 10 lockwood, where they
were transferred to the ). & G. passenger
train and brought to this place. Under
taker Coiiroth was sent for and the body
was prepared for burial and placed in a
c;lsket before il was removed to the home
OF his widowed mother and two sisters.
Several friends orthe deceased were at
the station upon the arrival OF the train
and To one ofthem was entrusted the ur.-
pleasant duty OF bearing the distressing
intelligence 10 the stricken family.
The ncws Of Mr.. Pattons tragic death
spread throughout the town in a few min
Gtes, and WAS the sole topic of conversa-
ton saturday night. Expression of sy.n-
palhy for the bereaved family were heard
on all sides
The funeral took place at 40 o'clock
Monday afternoon. " hen Elder Mullen
dore, ofthe Disciple Church, conducted
religious services al the house Members
of the Regal Arcanum oiliciated as pail
bearers aud at the grave.
The deceased was twenty-eight years
of age. lie is survived by his mother.
two sisters-Alisses Maine and Mamie
and hy three brothers, T. L. the we'll
KNOWN travelling passenger agent ofthe
Il. ~ o. with headquarters at Chlilieothe.
g., Joseph, OF Pit;s5lrr, AMI Charles, OF
Columbus. ..
Robert II Patton graduated from the
Disciple College at Bethery, West Va.
about two years sgo and WAS soon there
after admitted To the ministry of that de-
nomination. \ college class mate Of
Roberts says ihIt he was intensely
s.liioGs bGI ola meiaachDly disposition.
while he WAS not brilliant he ranked
very high. Iiis thoughts were wrapped
up IN the miaistry. lie was small of
stature and had weak voice aud ne con-
ell -. 4
low students frequently commented on
his nervous disposition. There seemed
30 be no cause for it, unless it was his
anxiety about the ministry. He was over
anxious to preach.
''Afler he grada.t-l he tJb.S r.iarre ofa
church At Eagle Mills, y. Y. I.,scutly
the congregation decided that it would Toe
better for him to take rest as heseemed
completely run down from over study"
Mr.. Patton returned % Somerset and
spent The holidays with his mother and
and sisters amer which he returned To
Esgie Mills. In the coarse Of three or
four weeks he again returned 10 Somerset.
he was victim Of insomnia ani ms ner-
voGs coalition Was such as to arouse
grave apprehensions on the part OF his
acqUaiatances. lie was completely brolz-
On down and disheancncd, and after de
Gliding 10 abandon the ministry temporari-
ly engaged in vain effort - secure other
employment.
Friday he leG home for Columbus, O.,
where he expected to spend few days
with his brother Charley, before going to
an adiOing town FOR the purpose of keep
ing an engagement with his brother Ed
ward. He had prepared a sermon which
he expected to deliver at q pbiat in Ohio
on the following sabbath. Upon arriving
in Pittsbnrg he called at the L. ). express
Office bat failed TO seetLe agent, Mr.. J. ID.
Zimmerman, whom he had known since
childhood. For some unknown reason
he changed his mind in regard tO going
20 Columbus and took the afternoon b. *
O. train for home. Several persons on
the train who were acquainted with him
observed that he seemed unusually de-
pressed and they became solici DIS for
his comfort When the train arrived at
Cassclman Mr.. Patton walked forward
10 the platform between the day coach
and the smoker. This was the last seen
Of him alive. The train had pulled onto
the siding n; Casselmln for the purpose of
permitting the west bound dyer to pass,
and after il had again resumed its way
and had proceed about two miles, Mr. II.
II. Vim norman, who was a passenger on
the train. Suddenly noticed Patton's alb
sonce and inquired ofthe Conductor as to
his whereabouts. A. Mr.. Patton had said
he was on MS way to Somerset the train
was Immediately stopped ard run back
Ia the end Of the siding at Casselman. 4
search was made at that point for the
missing man rs it was thought he might
have been hurled from the platform and
down over an embankment when the
train was set in motion before leaving the
siding. No trace of him cOlid be found
and the train was again about to start east
when a woman, whose home is close by,
came running up aud informed tho
searchers that they would find the dead
body ola man on the track few rods
further west. At the point Indicated the
body Of the unfortunate young minister
was discovered. How he came To his
death i a matter of conjecture, but il Is
pretty generally believed that he WAS
thrown from the platform 10y the force of
the train when it started to leave the
siding and in such a manner that his
head and shoulders fell across the track,
and that be was unable TO cxtricate him
self before the wheels were upon him.
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