The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1903-09-10
John McTaggart Accidentally Killed.

the Maine Central railroad, was accidentally
killed Friday morning, Sept. 4th. while on
the trip from Belfast to Burnham. When
the train reached Unity the station agent
gave Mr. McTaggart a telegram to be deliv-
cred to man at work on the granite of the
new bridge at Unity pond. Mr.. McTaggart
went down on the step of the baggage car to
hand the telegram to one of the crew and a
projecting pipe on donkey engine beside
the track struck his head and knocked him
from the step, and he did not move after
falling. He was seen by the stone crew.
who signalled the train to stop and back up.
Mr. McTaggart was taken into car and
efforts were made to restore life but without
avail When they arrived at Burnham Drs.
M, T. Dodge Of Troy and w. c. Chamber
lain of Burnhatr we're called and said that
Mr.. McTaggart was doubtless killed by the
blow from the pipe on tie donkey engine.
Coroner Chas. R. Coombs of Be1fas,t and the
Maine Central officials were notifedand an
inquest was called to be held at BurnhaM
in the afternoon. A jury was impanelled
consisting of Messrs. Ernest L. Libby, Fred
L. Fletcher, F. A. McAllister, Howard 1.
Libby, Joseph F. Jones and n. E. Murray
of Burnham. Coroner Coombs conducted
the examination, and Hon. Charles F. John
son of Waterville, attorney for the Maine
Central R. R. Co., was present. After view
ing the remains the jury went to Unity, the
scene of the accident, and here several wit
nesses were examined, including the four
men who were working on the bridge at the
time. They testified that Mr.. McTaggart
was standing on the lower step of the bag
gage car and threw out the telegram to one
of the men and was seen to strikethe pipe
from the donkey engine near the track and
fall from the car. Measurements of the
pipe show that it was but six inches from
the car. The train was running at the rate
of about six miles all hour, and it is believed
that Mr.. McTaggart was instantly killed.
The coroner's jury returned the following
verdict;
, We find that John McTaggart came to his
death at about 8 a. m. on Sept. 4, 1908, by
hitting a steam pipe attached to steam en-
gine at Winnecook bridge, in the town of
Unity, Me-, while delivering message from
moving train.
The remains of Mr.. McTaggart were
brought to Belfast on the Friday evening
train in charge of Coroner Coombs and
taken to his late home on High street John
McTaggart was born in Ernestine, Canada,
46 years ago, a son of James B. and Jane
McTaggart. The family moved to Brooks
when he was young, and he entered the
employ of the Maine Central r. K. Co.,
business with which his father and older
brothers were all connected. He worked
several years with the section crew, and
was afterwards put on the Belfast passen-
ger train as baggage master. He married
Dilla, daughter of the late Daniel Jones of
Brooks, who survives him, with two young
children, Harry and Hazel. He leaves also
to mourn their loss his aged parents, who
live in Brooks, two sisters and five broth
ers: Mrs Jennie Jewell of Chamberlain, S.
d. Miss Mary McTaggart of Brooks Will
liam B. of Waterville; Go don of Oakland
James and Norman of Brooks and Sidney
of Foxcroft. He was a member of Marsh
River Lodge of Masons of Brooks; Waldo
Lodge, Penobscot Encampment and Canton
Pallas of Odd Fellows and Belfast Council
Royal Arcanum of Belfast Mr. McTaggart
was deservedly held in high esteem by all
who knew him He was Il kind and faith
full husband and father, a dutiful son, true
friend, and one who met everybody with
pleasant word. He will be sadly missed in
Belfast and Brooks and by the travelling
public. A prayer was offered at his late
home on Primrose Hill by Rev. George S.
Mills Monday noon and the body was
escorted to the depot by Canton Pallas.
Twenty-Five members, with the family,
went to Brooks, where funeral services
were held at the church, Rev. George S.
Mills of Belfast officiating. There was
large attendance, including many railroad
men. Canton Pallas of Belfast, Marsh River
Lodge, F. and A. NJ, of Brooks, marched
to the cemetery where the latter order per-
formed its funeral service The floral tri-
butes were many and included one from
the employees on the Belfast branch and
handsome pieces from the various organiza-
tions of which the deceased was member.