Son of Charles and Ann (Cline) Shaw, husband of Varina Allen, m. 1883.

Car Demolished and Two Men Killed

Two Meet Instant Death When Southern Pacific Train Crashes Into Auto

A. H. Shaw, Prominent Strathmore Rancher, and His Cousin, Arthur R. Cline, Killed Sunday Morning

A. H. Shaw, prominent Strathmore orange grower, and his cousin, Arthur R. Cline, who had arrived in California only a week before from Rock Island, Ill., were instantly killed last Sunday morning about 9:45 o’clock when the sedan Shaw was driving was struck by a southbound S.P. passenger train at the Standard Oil crossing just north of Strathmore. The automobile was completely demolished, after being thrown about 60 feet. The men were thrown 30 feet farther. Both received broken necks, and broken bones in the chest and shoulder, as well as facial lacerations and minor cuts.

An inquest was held in Lindsay Monday morning at ten o’clock, conducted by Coroner J. M. Hadley. The jury rendered a verdict in both cases of “death from accidentally being struck by a S.P. railroad train near Strathmore.” The jury, of which George Delano was foreman, recommended that this crossing be protected with an automatic signal.

Testimony at the inquest showed that the automobile was going west. Mr. Cline and Mr. Shaw having just visited at the home of the former’s son, A.R. Cline, north of Strathmore. Mrs. Cline is Mr. Shaw’s daughter.

The car approached the track and slowed down about 30 feet from the rails, apparently intending to stop. It then went ahead by jerks until it was squarely across the track as the train, traveling 35 miles an hour, hit it. According to I.D. Iler, the engineer, the jar was so slight that he being on the opposite side of the engine, did not know they had struck an automobile until told by the fireman, C. E. Safford. The train was made up of six coaches. Among the others testifying were Dr. Scarboro, who told of the extent of injuries received by the men; W. L. McDowell, a brother-in-law, A. R. Cline, whose father was killed; H. J. Fick, who lives near the whistling post a mile north of Strathmore and who testified that the train crew gave the proper warning …..(words missing from copy)

Sister Didn’t Recognize Victim

Mr. & Mrs. W. L. McDowell, the latter, a sister of Mr. Shaw, were approaching the tracks from the west at the same time the ill-fated car was coming toward the crossing from the east. They were a quarter of a mile away when the crash came. Reaching the scene they saw the demolished car and the bodies along the right-of-way, but did not recognize the victims nor the car. Mr. McDowell, at someone’s suggestion, drove to Strathmore to get an officer and took Mrs. McDowell on to church. The victims were not identified until he returned sometime later.

Almost Three-Score and Ten

Austin H. Shaw was born June 21, 1855 in Peoria Co., Ill., being 69 years, 9 months, and 14 days at the time of death. In 1883 he married Miss Varina Allen of the same district. Mr. and Mrs. Shaw came to Los Angeles from Illinois in 1906, where they resided until 1910, when they came to Strathmore where they have made their home on an orange grove just west of town. Beside his wife, Mr. Shaw is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Verna Pawley of Visalia, Mrs. Florence Cline of Strathmore, and Miss Dorothy Shaw, who is at home. The couple had one son, Willard Shaw, who passed away in 1916. Mr. Shaw is survived also by 6 sisters: Mrs. C. M. Stevens of Shenandoah, Iowa; Mrs. Robert Livingston of Alta, Ill; Mrs. A. D. Kent of Alta, Ill.; Mrs. D. F. Campbell of Orange, Calif.; Mrs. W. L. McDowell, Strathmore; and Mrs. Walter Allen of Alta, Ill.; two brothers, N F. Shaw, residing in Kansas and Robert Shaw of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Arthur Robert Cline, a prominent business man of Rock Island, Ill., arrived March 28 to visit at the home of his son, A. R. Cline, son-in-law of Mr. Shaw, and also with his cousins in this district. Mr. Cline was born in Peoria county, Ill., in 1866. He is survived by two sons, Robert Cline of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and A. Ross Cline of Strathmore.

Double Funeral Yesterday

A double funeral service was held yesterday afternoon at the Methodist church in Lindsay, the pastor, the Rev. W. B. Cole, assisted by the Rev. L. A. Wood of the Episcopal church of Porterville, officiating. Mr. Shaw was buried in Olive cemetery where the Masonic lodge, of which he was a member, had charge. The body of Mr. Cline, accompanied by his son, A. Ross Cline, will be shipped today to the home in Illinois where interment will take place. He was a member of the Elks Lodge.

Out of respect, stores in Strathmore closed yesterday afternoon from 2 to 4 p.m.

Lindsay Gazette, California’s Leading Weekly (Lindsay, Tulare County, California), Fri., April 10, 1925.

Obituary transcribed and submitted by Sue Ramsey.