Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1905-12-22
JOHN MURPHY JR.
LOSES HIS LIFE

JOIN Murphy, Jr., a bright and
highly esteemed young man of this
city, met horrible death in an ex-
plosion of dynamite near Shamokin on
Saturday morning.
The deceased was the son of John
Murphy, Sr., of Upper Mulberry
street, the well-known railroad fore
man. The latter, who was''formerly en-
ployed by the p. & r. Railway Com
pany, at later date had charge of a
gang of men on the construction of the
Danville and Bloomsbury trolley line,
where he was recognized as one of the
most skillful men of his class. He was
also employed on the Danville and
Sunbury trolley line as well as on the
Bloomsbury and Millville trolley road.
When work was stopped on the latter
line he re-entered the employment of
W. f. Pascoe and took a position as
foreman on the new Shamokin and
Sunbury Electric Railway.
When Mr.. Murphy accepted posi-
tion on the Danville and Bloomsbury
line in the summer of 1904 his son who
lost his life Saturday, then lad of
some sixteen years, went to work with
him. He began by carrying picks and
doing other work such as usually falls
to boys and in short time by his
courtesy, his gentle and accommodate
ing manners he won his way into the
hearts of all connected with the road.
He followed his father working with
him ON the vaious lines in this yicin-
ity and under Mr.. Pascoe at Shamokin.
The construction crew on the Sun
bury and Shamokin line at present are
working at a point near Cameron col
liery, just outside of Shamokin. At
the foot of the hill Saturday morning
fire had been built to thaw out some
dynamite. Twenty-four sticks of the
explosive were arranged around the
fire leaning against the dinner buckets
belonging to the workmen.
On the hill above three hundred feet
away gang of sixty men under John
Murphy, the father were busy at
work.
The morning was chilly and John
Murphy, Jr., complaining of being
cold ran down to the fire. He remained
seated within three feet of the blaze,
while another workman who had been
warming himself got up and walked
away. The latter was only twenty
feet distant when the twenty four
sticks of dynamite exploded with a
loud report. The last named workman
escaped serious injury, although badly
shocked, but John Murphy, Jr., was
dreadfully mangled. Both feet and
one hand were blown off and as was
natural in the dreadful concussion sus
tanned injuries in every part of his
body, internally as well as externally
He was found lying upon the ground
unconscious.
He was tenderly picked up and car
ried into an empty building near by.
Here after about five minutes while
his father was bending over him he
dimly regained consciousness for a
moment. The next minute, however,
death came to his relief and he peace
fully passed away.
The cause of the explosion will for
ever remain a mystery. The thawing
out of dynamite is very common
process and is not supposed to be at
tended with any danger whatever. A
heavily loaded freight train just at
that moment passed at a high rate of
speed and some incline to the opinion
that the jar on the heavily frozen
ground caused the dynamite to explode.
All the deadly explosive went off at
once-and did terrible execution. The
tin dinner buckets, hattended by the
force of the explosion, lay scattered
about on every side.
| The mutilated remains were taken to
the undertaking establishment of NAL
colin Farrow, Shamokin, where they
remained until evening when they
were shipped to Danville. The body
arrived at South Danville ON the 80
train, accompanied by the father, and
William Murphy, uncle of the deceas-
ed, John Danner and George Maiers
of the Engineer Corps, besides several
others connected with the construc-
tion crew.
The shocking event cast deep gloom
over the entire force of workmen.
The fathers grief indeed was pitiable.
The parents have the heartfelt sym
pathy of everybody Several years
ago another child was killed by acci-
dent, a mere babe-which strolled out
of the rear gate of the yard and sat
down on the projecting edge of tie
on the P. & r. Railway. The little
one was on the outside of the rail, but
not beyond reach of the locomotive,
which came along and struck it, caus-
ing it to roll down the high embank-
ment. Injuries were sustained which
caused the death of the child in a
short time The second tragic death
ON Saturday leaves the stricken par
ents childless.
Work is Progressing.