DEATHS: Inquests, 1898, Altoona Mirror, December 28, 1898, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja Copyright 2006.All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _______________________________________________ THE YEAR'S INQUESTS. Coroner McCartney Was a Busy Man During the Past Twelve Months. During the year 1898 Coroner McCartney investigated the deaths of eighty- seven persons, as follows: January 3 - Frank Corregan, death caused by an accidental discharge of a gun in the hands of Joseph Fonner, at Carlem. January 7 - George W. Heverly, Tyrone; death caused by a pistol shot fired by his own hand during temporary insanity. March 15 - Patrick Tighe, Altoona; death resulted from natural causes. April 5 - William Alcorn, Altoona; death caused by being crushed between cars in Altoona yard. April 19 - George Detwiler, Huston township; death resulted from natural causes. April 27 - Robert Barber, Altoona; death caused by a wound from a 38-calibre revolver fired by the hand of Walter Clark, alias Roving Jack, at Tunnel Hill, April 27; Clark fired three times. May 15 - W. H. Wertz, Altoona; death caused by being struck by a stone thrown from a blast in the Logan township stone quarry. May 12 - Frank McClelland, Fostoria; death resulted from a knife wound inflicted by a companion, William Hilliard. May 20 - Willian Wilson, Altoona; death resulted from his coming in contact with a live guy wire of the Electric Light company. May 21 - Illegitimate child of Ida Kustaborder, of Bellwood; death resulted from unskilled treatment at birth. June 18 - Charles Romig; death resulted from over-exertion brought about by alcoholism; died at Altoona hospital. July 15 - Charles Blamey, Altoona; death caused by strangulation; he had gotten his head under a sliding door at the stable of J. Burke, at Sixth Alley and Third street, which held him fast. August 2 - James Brett, Bennington; death caused by intoxication. August 5 - Unknown man instantly killed at Bellwood while crossing the Pennsylvania railroad by being struck by Atlantic express. September 16 - Solomon B. Barnes, Altoona; died from injuries received in an accident in a running horse race at the Blair county fair. September 26 - Samuel Elpern, Altoona; death caused by being run over by wagon No. 1 of the Pennsylvania railroad company, at the corner of Thirteenth avenue and Eighteenth street. October 24 - Mrs. Jennie Simpson, Altoona; death caused by consumption and not having proper care. January 9 - Emmet Robison, Altoona; death caused by convulsions. January 12 - William A. Johnston, instant death, caused by being struck by locomotive of Atlantic express, one mile west of Tipton. January 18 - Albert E. Myers, run over by an engine on the Pennsylvania railroad at Fourth street, Altoona, January 17, died at Altoona hospital on January 18. February 11 - William Lutz, Altoona; death caused by being struck by Johnstown accommodation two miles west of Altoona during a dense fog. February 12 - Michael Lacerante, Altoona; died at the Altoona hospital withacute tramatic [sic] meningitis. February 12 - Mrs. Minnie Edgar, Altoona; death caused by heart failure. February 12 - Adolphus Clapper, Canoe Creek; found drowned in a stream nearCanoe Creek, having evidently driven off a bridge with a buggy; the buggy wasoverturned upon him. February 21 - Clarence Lee McClain, 6-month-old infant, Altoona; deathcaused by spasms. February 21 - Joseph Munick died at Altoona hospital, resulting from a fallfrom a ledge of rock, alighting on his head, at stone quarry. March 2 - John Simon, Altoona; stepped in front of freight train while atwork at Kittanning Point; died of injuries received at Altoona hospital a fewhours afterwards. March 3 - Benjamin Yeager, Altoona; died from injuries received whileblowing up stone with dynamite near Hutchison's, two miles below Altoona. March 5 - Sarah McFarland, Altoona; instantly killed, near Grazierville,Pa., by being struck by passenger train while gathering coal near thePennsylvania railroad track. March 8 - J. E. Riley, Altoona; death resulted from taking laudanum withsuicidal intent. March 10 - Edward Shultz, Altoona; struck by engine 510 in Altoona yard,while in discharge of his duty as assistant track foreman; died at hospital. March 12 - John F. Aurandt, Tyrone; instantly killed at Tyrone station byfalling between the cars while in motion. March 14 - Richard Kamm, Frankstown; found drowned in the Juniata river. March 14 - William Allen, Altoona; killed by being struck by a train nearMcGarvey's. March 16 - Paul Gazink, Altoona hospital; death caused by exposure whileill and having no medical attention at Kittanning Point. March 23 - Grant Kemberling; killed by being struck by a train atMcGarvey's at midnight, March 22. March 27 - James W. Buchanan, Altoona; killed by being run over by engineNo. 581 in Altoona yard, at Ninth avenue and Eighth street. March 28 - J. J. Gettys, Altoona; death resulted from injuries received onrailroad, March 26, at Gallitzin, while in the discharge of his duty. April 7 - Mrs. Levina Kellerman, of Gaysport; death caused by internalhemorrhages. April 15 - Hugh Durham, Altoona; death caused by internal hemorrhages. April 15 - Earl Scott McMonegal, Altoona; death caused by being crushedbetween the cars in the Altoona yard, opposite the Logan House, whileattempting to board a freight train. April 19 - Christopher O'Dawd, killed by being run over by an engine atGallitzin tunnel while asleep along the railroad track. April 21 - William Hippensteel, Altoona; death caused by the crushing ofthe right leg by a tree falling on it on April 12; died at the Altoonahospital, April 21. April 22 - Andrew Butler, Altoona; death caused by spine disease. April 25 - Chambers Imler, Altoona; death resulted from being thrown from abuggy at Eighth avenue and Twenty-fourth street, Altoona, April 23. April 27 - Unknown man struck and killed by a train at the three culverts. April 28 - Tim McGarvey, struck and killed by Engine No. 91, near the threeculverts, April 27. May 4 - Jiacento Scalso, Altoona; death resulted from pneumonia. May 5 - Alta May Corbin; death resulted from being burned at J. W.Plummber's carpenter shop, Altoona. May 10 - Joseph Hunter, Altoona; death resulted from double pneumonia. May 11 - James Malone, Gaysport; death caused by suicidal drowning in theJuniata river, Hollidaysburg. May 17 - Mat Fartoon, Altoona; death resulted from being injured in a slideat Clover Creek stone quarries. May 20 - Philip Hoover, of Tyrone; death caused by apoplexy. May 23 - Unknown man killed by being struck by an engine while attemptingto cross the railroad at Bellwood. May 24 - George Grajack, Altoona hospital; death caused by an obstructionof the bowels. May 24 - John Windsor, Altoona; killed by being struck with an engine atthe three culverts. May 26 - John Teacock, Altoona; death resulted from pneumonia. June 24 - William Davis, Altoona; death caused by a fall of sand nearDuncansville; injured internally. June 25 - Illegitimate child of Mary Gibboney, Altoona; death caused bypremature birth. June 24 - Pancozia Mangone, Altoona; death caused by being struck withengine 1,591, at McGarvey's. July 9 - Michael Chislock, Bennington; killed by a fall of coal at bank ofEast End Coal company. August 8 - Charles M. Johnson, Tyrone township; death caused by spasms. August 17 - Charles M. Fogel, Logan township; death resulted from naturalcauses. August 16 - George A. Reeves, Altoona; death caused by apoplexy. August 17 - Edward Caswell, Altoona; death caused by being caught betweentwo Jenny couplers and crushed across the abdomen in the Altoona yard. August 18 - W. A. Ainsworth, Altoona; death caused by peritonitis. August 20 - Unknown child taken dead from the filtering beds at Cananstation. August 23 - Jacob Burket, Altoona; death caused by being thrown under thewheels of a freight train while attempting to get off, near Cresson, August22. September 24 - Barbara France, Altoona; death resulted from a dose ofcarbolic acid, administered by mistake by her mother. September 22 - Albert Wertz, 21 months old, smothered while asleep at hishome, one mile below Altoona. September 23 - David M. Mills, Roaring Spring; instantly killed by a draftof cars while walking along the railroad near Roaring Spring. October 1 - Barbara Wolf, Altoona; death caused by heart trouble. October 8 - Harry C. Buck, Altoona; death caused by being caught under theshaft of a steam hammer in the upper blacksmith shop of the Pennsylvaniarailroad company. October 16 - Two infants found dead at the entrance to Seventh streetbridge, Altoona. October 27 - Thomas G. Speece, Altoona, brakeman on the Pennsylvaniarailroad; instantly killed by the breaking of a brake chain while on duty. October 26 - David Paul, Altoona; death caused by being struck by passengertrain No. 14, on the Pennsylvania railroad, at Tyrone. November 9 - Richard C. McMurray, Altoona; death caused by an attempt tostep from one car to another and falling between the tracks, his head beingcut off by the cars. November 17 - Alexander Shock, Altoona; death caused by uraemia. November 22 - John Stevens, at Schmucker's quarry; death caused by a fallof stone at the stone quarry, crushing him. November 26 - John Creway, Franklin Forge; death caused by a stone rollingdown from the top of quarry and striking him on the head while at work. December 7 - W. S. Chase, Altoona; death caused by stepping in front of amoving train in Altoona yard, in the darkness. December 4 - Peter Gerstwhite, Altoona; death caused by old age and heartfailure. December 10 - J. W. O'Hara, Altoona; death caused by being caught in awreck at Twenty-seventh street; he was a brakeman; the train broke, and whenit came together he was on the platform and was instantly killed. December 13 - Lorenzo Gardello, Altoona; death caused by catarrh of theliver.