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!
Indiana Weekly Messenger
Wednesday, August 8, 1894
Terrible Accident
James A. Crissman Ground to Death Under Car Wheels at Ligonier
Last Thursday James A. Crissman, aged 25, a son of Mr. George Crissman, of White tp., met with a fatal accident at Ligonier. He was a member of the Lutheran excursion party that left Indiana on Thursday morning to picnic at Idlewild, the popular resort on the Ligonier Valley railroad about eight miles from Latrobe and distant two miles from Ligonier, the terminus of the road.
Ligonier is a town of considerable importance, have three or four hotels and other attractions for sight-seers, and of the thousands of people who annually visit Idlewild many hundreds of them during their stay visit the town.
In company with several companions young Crissman went to Ligonier on the afternoon of the day named. They walked about the town and enjoyed themselves in various ways. In wandering about Crissman got separated from his companions, and when the train was ready to depart on the return to Idlewild he was not on board. The train had got under pretty rapid headway when he was seen running along the track to get on a car. He succeeded in grasping the guard rail on the steps of the front end of the third car from the rear, but lost his footing and was thrown under the wheels. Three cars passed over his body. The train was stopped and when his horror-stricken friends reached the spot where he lay on the track they found that both legs had been severed from the body at the upper part of the thigh and the left arm mangled and the thumb of that limb torn off. He was conscious, and looking up at Will Hauxhurst, who had accompanied him from Indiana and who was his most intimate friend, he said, Will, its all over; good-bye.
A stretcher was quickly procured and the poor mangled youth carefully carried to an adjoining hotel, where three physicians and the numerous friends did all that was possible to relieve his dying moments. He lived for an hour and thirteen minutes after the accident, and until a few moments before his death was apparently conscious. The fearful shock evidently made him oblivious of pain, and the great loss of blood caused by the severing of the life arteries caused a mortal weakness that made endurable without lament the brief hour he survived his terrible injuries.
His father was notified by telegraph of the awful nature of the accident, and upon the return here of the excursion train at 8 oclock in the evening he, in company with Mr. J. M. Cunningham, went back on it to Latrobe, and on Friday morning drive across the country to Ligonier, reaching there about 6 oclock. Arriving there they found that the railroad authorities had been unremitting in their care and attention to the unfortunate man while he lived and had prepared the remains for burial. The Coroner had been notified of the accident, but did not deem it necessary to hold an inquest. The body was brought here on the evening train on Friday and take to Apples undertaking establishment, where an opportunity was given the many friends here to view the remains. At a later hour the body was conveyed to the home of his father, two miles west of town. The funeral took place at 2 P.M. on Saturday, and the cortege to Oakland was one of the largest and saddest that has ever passed through the gates of that city of the dead.
Albert, as he was familiarly called, was a quiet, unassuming youth, whose gentle manners endeared him to all who knew him. If he had any faults they were those of the judgment and not of thee heart, and none had warmer or more steadfast friends.
His father, brother, stepmother and grandmothers constituted the family, and he was idolized by all, and to them the terrible and sudden shock came like a deadly flash of lightning out of a clear sky.
The funeral services were conducted by the Rev. M. M. Sweeney, and were of an unusually touching and impressive character.
Mr. Crissman, while at Ligonier on Friday morning, made a careful investigation into the nature of the accident. The railroad officials, including Superintendent Kemp (sic) [Senft] and Excursions Manager Sloan, afforded him every facility and assisted him in ascertaining the facts. After learning all the details and circumstances surrounding the accident, Mr. Crissman fully exonerated the railroad officials and trainmen from any negligence. The railroad authorities provided a handsome casket for the remains and done everything in their power to alleviate the feelings of the family. It is the first fatal accident that ever occurred on the Ligonier Valley, although it hauls many thousands of passengers every year, and especially in the summer season handled immense throngs of people every day.
Mr. Crissman desired us to return his heartfelt thanks to the railway officials, physicians and the hotel people for their kindness to his son in his dying hours, as well as to himself when on his sad errand to bring home the remains of his son.