Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1907-02-01
EDWARD ROBERTS
GROUND TO death

Edward Roberts, we'll known resi-
dent of Valley township, met his death
on the P. 81 r. railroad near the COM
pany barn at 8 o'clock yesterday morn
ing. The accident was a most shocking
one, all the circumstances indicating
that the man foot had become wedg-
ed fast in the switch and that thus
held fast he was struck bv locomo-
tive.
At about 8 80 O'Clock yesterday
morning John Thomas, of MahoDing
township, was walking on the P. g. r,
track on the way to his work at the
big mill When about midway be-
tween the switch of the Reading iron
works and the company barn he came
across dead body lying on the rail
road. Hurrying into town he reported
the matter and in response Chief-of-
Police Mincemoyer, accompanied by
Night Watchma Lewis Byerly and
quickly followed by Officer Voris hur-
ried to the scene of the accident.
other train was approaching. Chief
Mincemoyer quickly removed the body
from the track while some boys ran
forward and tagged the train, which
came to stop. A shocking sight pre-
sented itself On the upper side of the
track seventy. five feet south of where
the body was found lay severed limb,
which had been cut off at the knee.
Fragments of the other limb. which
had been severed halfway between
the knee and ankle and which had
been literally ground to pieces were
found scattered along the track. The
heel and a portion of the foot was
wedged in the switch. SO tightly was
it held between the rails that it could
only be released with the aid of bar
procured from the waiting engine
The left arm was almost severed. A
terrible injury was inflicted in the re-
gion of the left hip, where there was
deep puncture and the bones were
shattered and protruded from the lace
rated flesh
There would seem to be no doubt
but that the unfortunate man was near
the frog of the switch when the eng
inc, pusher No. SAC. running back
wards, or tender first, passed over that
portion of the track at 3 O'Clock yes.
terday morning on its way to West
Milton. Upon arriving at the latter
place blood stains were discovered up
on the tender by both the engineer and
fireman, W hioh was tho first intimation
either had that an accident had occur
red.
In trying to escape it is altogether
likely that the mans foot got fast in
the switch in which position he was
struck ON the hip by the tender and
showed or dragged tor at least seventy
five feet, where the body was found.
This was indicated by cuts and alb
rasions about the face in addition to
the fatal injuries above described.
Justice of the Peace Dalton was call
ed to the spot. After making very
thorough inquiry into the cause of
death and viewing closely both the
body and the surroundings he decided
that an inquest was unnecessary and
that the man came to his death as the
result of an accident, in the manner
above described.
The body was cold when Chief-of-
Police Mincemoyer arrived, which
would indicate. assuming that the man
was struck by engine No. $40, that
very soon. Undertaken Frank Henrie
was called to the spot who took the
remains to his undertaking establish
ment where they were prepared for
burial
Edward Roberts, the victim of the
terrible affair, was road master of Val
ley township and lived about mile
from the Forks on the road leading to
Pursell's slope. He was fifty-two years
of age and is survived by three sons
and one daughter: Clyde, william,
Mark and Miss Minnie, all of Valley
township. The daughter is school
teacher and at present has charge of
Styer's school. The wife of the deceas-
ed departed this life about one year
ago.
The funeral will take place today at
2 p. m. from the family residence,
Valley township. Interment will be
made at Mausdale.