Mary A Callahan

Another newspaper article from the Philipsburg Daily Journal on Wharton's wife death. A SHOCKING ACCIDENT.

Two Well Known Ladies Meet a Horrible Death at the Beech Creek Crossing Saturday Evening.

BOTH WERE INSTANTLY KILLED

If ever mortal beings met death quickly and un expectantly that was the fate of two women of this neighborhood on Saturday night at the Beech Creek railroad crossing on Presquisle Street. Another such a shocking accident never happened in this region, and the news of it appalled the town. Mrs. Wharton Callahan, of Chester Hill, and her sister - in - law, Mrs. Mary Bauder, who lives on Second Street, in this borough, started from the Callahan residence for town Saturday evening, intending to await the arrival of the P.R.R. train, on which Mrs. Callahan's daughter, Miss Margaret, was expected from Houtzdale. In crossing the Beech Creek tracks both were instantly killed by engine No. 2263, Beech Creek shifter. There is but one known witness of the accident, R. K. Clees, an employe of the Andrews' dry goods store. Mrs. Callahan was cut completely in two by the truck wheel and Mrs. Bauder's neck and back were broken, left foot crushed, leg broken below the knee, and both arms broken. The women had probably tried to run around the slowly approaching engine, for when found under the tank after the engine had stopped they were off the board walk and on the wagon crossing.

The engine which crushed the life from the two unfortunates was on the west side track, moving backward, truck end first, toward the brick yard, that is, coming up the side track in order to switch on to the round track. The engine was moving very slowly. Samuel Wells, the hostler at the engine house, was running the engine. On the engine with Wells was young Nathan Mull, who often assists him at his work in order to acquire a mechanical knowledge of a locomotive. Neither Wells nor Mull saw the women on the track ahead. Mr. Wells stopped the engine immediately upon becoming aware that the tank wheels had passed over something. He then heard Clees shouting to him that some one was under the wheels, but had not previously heard him. The passenger train on the main track had passed in the opposite direction and was out of the way. The rear tank wheel had passed over the body of Mrs. Callahan. Mrs. Bauder was lying lengthwise along the track, the wheels of the truck having passed over one foot. Her head was resting on the rail, and the prompt stopping of the engine saved the head from being crushed to a pulp. Engineer Wells unassisted removed the bodies from under the tank or truck. Neither bore outward evidence of having been dragged by the engine. The accident happened at five minutes past seven o'clock.

M. S. Adams, justice of the peace of Chester Hill, was sent for, and he empaneled an inquest jury. The testimony of Clees, Wells, and Mull was taken, and after learning that the engine had not been moving faster than two miles an hour, and that the bell was ringing, and that the whistle had been blown before starting, rendered the following verdict " We find no person or persons directly or indirectly responsible for the accident."

Mr. Wells naturally feels badly over the deplorable affair, although no one attaches blame to him. He could not continue his work Saturday night and went home.

Both the unfortunate victims were well and favorably known. Mrs. Callahan was 44 years old on the 22d of last July. She was born in Central Point, PA and was reared in Illinois. Her maiden name was Mary Bauder. Besides her husband she is survived by three sons and one daughter - William of Barnesboro, Lot, who is married and live at Sandy Ridge, and Charles and Margaret at home. Mrs. Bauder's maiden name was Mary Bartholomew. She was the widow of John H. Bauder, who died about (illegible) years ago. She is survived by a son, George Bauder, who is married and living on Sixth Street. She was born in Hublersburg, this county, and will be buried there tomorrow. Mrs. Callahan's funeral will be held at 2:00 tomorrow afternoon and Revs. Tomkinson, Mease, and Bright will officiate. The bodies are both at the Callahan residence in Chester Hill.

The families of the deceased are of course greatly grieved and shocked over the swift and untimely deaths. The community at large is filled with sympathy for those whose Christmas and ( illegible) of Nativity became a period of sorrow and weeping.

The crossing where the sad accident of Saturday night occurred, has been one very much used and particularly dark, and it seems a shame that a good light can not be placed there by the railroad company or the Chester Hill Borough. ( rest is illegible)u

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Bauder-227

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/218986036/mary-callahan

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/vitals/LR45-CLW