Ligonier Valley Rail Road Newspaper Articles
We have compiled over 1,400 newspaper articles that mention the Ligonier Valley Railroad, or related subjects. The articles were originally published starting in 1873 and our collection runs through 1995. Enjoy!
Ligonier Echo
Wednesday, June 6, 1906
Frightful Accident
R. A. Shrum Had Both Legs Crushed Under Car Wheels
R. A. Shrum, of Ligonier, employed as a brakeman on the Ligonier Valley Railroad, met with a frightful accident at ten o'clock last Thursday morning, at the Weldon street crossing at Latrobe when he was caught under a heavily loaded car, and his left leg crushed above the knee, while his right foot was cut off at the ankle, from the effect of which he died the same day at about 4 o'clock at the Westmoreland Hospital.
Engine No. 7 of L.V.R.R. was doing some shifting at the scales, located at the Weldon street crossing, and Shrum attempted to cut off a car which was coupled to the engine, while the latter was moving, the plan being to send the car down over the switch onto one track while the engine continued down the adjoining track.
The coupling refused to work and Shrum continued pulling at the pin, in the meantime walking along with the moving engine and car, keeping his body to the outside of the rail. The brakeman failed in his effort to get the coupling pin loosened and as the engine and car crossed the switch, down which the car was to have been shunted, Shrum's right foot caught in a switch frog and held him fast. He was forced to release his hold on the car and fell to the ground. The car wheels passed over the right ankle as he lay a prisoner and completely severed the foot. In his struggles to release himself Shrum threw his other leg over the rail, and it was terribly crushed by the wheels of the car, which passed over it above the knee.
Shrum was picked up and placed on a stretcher and carried to the office of Dr. Metzger. The latter accompanied him to the Westmoreland Hospital on Pacific Express.
The remains were brought to Ligonier on Friday and prepared for burial at the undertaking rooms of C. A. Lowry & Sons and then taken out to the home of his grandmother, Mrs. Rosana Serena, in Ligonier township, from where the funeral took place last Sunday forenoon. The remains were taken from the house to the Zion church where the services were held. The sermon was preached by the Rev. David Berkey, of
Somerset, assisted by Rev. A. C. Miller. The interment was made in the Zion cemetery. Young Richard A. Shrum was 22 years, 5 months and 26 days old. He was a member of the Ligonier Lodge, No. 964, I.O.O.F., and the members of the lodge attended the funeral in a body and the impressive funeral services of the order were conducted at the grave. He was also a member of the United Evangelical church at Zion. A beautiful bouquet of flowers was furnished by the L.V.R.R. Co.
It was an exceedingly large funeral, there being one hundred and eight buggies and carriages in the procession and at the church besides many people walked direct to the church. It was an exceedingly sad death, as his young wife died May 2, 1906, leaving a young son two days old. Her funeral took place May 4th, while his was June 3rd. His parents are both dead. The young child is in charge of the dead wife's mother, Mrs. Harry Jones.