Obituary for Elizabeth DeHaas Democratic watchman, Bellefonte, Pa Sept. 17 1937
One woman Killed, Two others injured on Milesburg train Trestle, Caught on bridge by milk train backing into Bellfonte Elizabeth DeHaas was killed instantly while her mother and sister had narrow escapes.
Miss Elizabeth DeHaas, 31 of Hunter's Park, was killed instantly about 12.50 o'clock on Sunday when she was run down by a milk train of eight cars on the railroad bridge near Central City, as it was backing into Bellefonte, and her mother, Mrs. Emma DeHaas and sister Mrs. Edna Swyers, miraculously escaped the same fate.
The three women had evidently attended church services and were on their way to the Swyers home, located near the point of the mountain south of Bald Eagle Creek. They parked their car alongside the highway and started to walk across the railroad bridge as a near cut to the Swyers home, something they had frequently done. It being Sunday, the women probably did not exercise due caution in the possibility of trains on the road.
When the train backed in the women were about the middle of the bridge. Mrs Swyers jumped and landed in the creek; her mother dropped down and clung to the iron structure with both hands, but Miss DeHaas, a cripple, was evidently so overcome with fright she was unable to make a move to save herself, was hit by the car, knocked down and her body wedged between the rail and the guardrail. Death was evidently instantaneous, because when finally released it was found that her chest and body were badly crushed and her right arm almost severed.
At an inquest, held at 10 o'clock on Monday morning, C.A.Kirkpatricck, conductor, testified that he was on the rear of the car as it was backing in; that the train was running at a speed of about 13 miles an hour, and when he saw the women he threw on the brakes which slowed the train, but not enough to prevent running down Miss DeHaas, who made no effort to save herself. At the inquest a number of people in the vicinity of the accident testified that the train crew had strictly observed all the customary precautions. That the whistle had been blown and bell signals given. The conductor's story was corroborated by other members of the train crew; C V Balin, brakeman, G Z Funk, engineer and C B Davidson fireman.
The accident delayed the milk train one hour and forty minutes. As soon as the train could be brought to the standstill the crew telephoned to Bellfonte for the ambulance and Mrs. DeHaas and Mrs. Swyers were brought to the Centre County hospital. Mrs Swyers suffered only minor injuries and after treatment in the infirmary was discharged. Her mother, Mrs. Emma DeHaas sustained cuts on the head, chest injuries and shock, but no serious injuries.
Elizabeth M DeHaas was a daughter of Daniel and Emma DeHaas and was born May 1st 1806. Her father is dead, but she is survived by her mother, her sister, Mrs. Swyers, two brothers, Miles and Henry I DeHaas both of Benner Township.
Funeral services were held in the Baptist church at Mileburg at 10 o'clock on Wednesday morning by Rev C.W. Mainwaring, burial being made in the Treziyulny cemetery.
One woman Killed, Two others injured on Milesburg train Trestle, Caught on bridge by milk train backing into Bellfonte Elizabeth DeHaas was killed instantly while her mother and sister had narrow escapes.
Miss Elizabeth DeHaas, 31 of Hunter's Park, was killed instantly about 12.50 o'clock on Sunday when she was run down by a milk train of eight cars on the railroad bridge near Central City, as it was backing into Bellefonte, and her mother, Mrs. Emma DeHaas and sister Mrs. Edna Swyers, miraculously escaped the same fate.
The three women had evidently attended church services and were on their way to the Swyers home, located near the point of the mountain south of Bald Eagle Creek. They parked their car alongside the highway and started to walk across the railroad bridge as a near cut to the Swyers home, something they had frequently done. It being Sunday, the women probably did not exercise due caution in the possibility of trains on the road.
When the train backed in the women were about the middle of the bridge. Mrs Swyers jumped and landed in the creek; her mother dropped down and clung to the iron structure with both hands, but Miss DeHaas, a cripple, was evidently so overcome with fright she was unable to make a move to save herself, was hit by the car, knocked down and her body wedged between the rail and the guardrail. Death was evidently instantaneous, because when finally released it was found that her chest and body were badly crushed and her right arm almost severed.
At an inquest, held at 10 o'clock on Monday morning, C.A.Kirkpatricck, conductor, testified that he was on the rear of the car as it was backing in; that the train was running at a speed of about 13 miles an hour, and when he saw the women he threw on the brakes which slowed the train, but not enough to prevent running down Miss DeHaas, who made no effort to save herself. At the inquest a number of people in the vicinity of the accident testified that the train crew had strictly observed all the customary precautions. That the whistle had been blown and bell signals given. The conductor's story was corroborated by other members of the train crew; C V Balin, brakeman, G Z Funk, engineer and C B Davidson fireman.
The accident delayed the milk train one hour and forty minutes. As soon as the train could be brought to the standstill the crew telephoned to Bellfonte for the ambulance and Mrs. DeHaas and Mrs. Swyers were brought to the Centre County hospital. Mrs Swyers suffered only minor injuries and after treatment in the infirmary was discharged. Her mother, Mrs. Emma DeHaas sustained cuts on the head, chest injuries and shock, but no serious injuries.
Elizabeth M DeHaas was a daughter of Daniel and Emma DeHaas and was born May 1st 1806. Her father is dead, but she is survived by her mother, her sister, Mrs. Swyers, two brothers, Miles and Henry I DeHaas both of Benner Township.
Funeral services were held in the Baptist church at Mileburg at 10 o'clock on Wednesday morning by Rev C.W. Mainwaring, burial being made in the Treziyulny cemetery.
Obituary for Elizabeth DeHaas Democratic watchman, Bellefonte, Pa Sept. 17 1937
One woman Killed, Two others injured on Milesburg train Trestle, Caught on bridge by milk train backing into Bellfonte Elizabeth DeHaas was killed instantly while her mother and sister had narrow escapes.
Miss Elizabeth DeHaas, 31 of Hunter's Park, was killed instantly about 12.50 o'clock on Sunday when she was run down by a milk train of eight cars on the railroad bridge near Central City, as it was backing into Bellefonte, and her mother, Mrs. Emma DeHaas and sister Mrs. Edna Swyers, miraculously escaped the same fate.
The three women had evidently attended church services and were on their way to the Swyers home, located near the point of the mountain south of Bald Eagle Creek. They parked their car alongside the highway and started to walk across the railroad bridge as a near cut to the Swyers home, something they had frequently done. It being Sunday, the women probably did not exercise due caution in the possibility of trains on the road.
When the train backed in the women were about the middle of the bridge. Mrs Swyers jumped and landed in the creek; her mother dropped down and clung to the iron structure with both hands, but Miss DeHaas, a cripple, was evidently so overcome with fright she was unable to make a move to save herself, was hit by the car, knocked down and her body wedged between the rail and the guardrail. Death was evidently instantaneous, because when finally released it was found that her chest and body were badly crushed and her right arm almost severed.
At an inquest, held at 10 o'clock on Monday morning, C.A.Kirkpatricck, conductor, testified that he was on the rear of the car as it was backing in; that the train was running at a speed of about 13 miles an hour, and when he saw the women he threw on the brakes which slowed the train, but not enough to prevent running down Miss DeHaas, who made no effort to save herself. At the inquest a number of people in the vicinity of the accident testified that the train crew had strictly observed all the customary precautions. That the whistle had been blown and bell signals given. The conductor's story was corroborated by other members of the train crew; C V Balin, brakeman, G Z Funk, engineer and C B Davidson fireman.
The accident delayed the milk train one hour and forty minutes. As soon as the train could be brought to the standstill the crew telephoned to Bellfonte for the ambulance and Mrs. DeHaas and Mrs. Swyers were brought to the Centre County hospital. Mrs Swyers suffered only minor injuries and after treatment in the infirmary was discharged. Her mother, Mrs. Emma DeHaas sustained cuts on the head, chest injuries and shock, but no serious injuries.
Elizabeth M DeHaas was a daughter of Daniel and Emma DeHaas and was born May 1st 1806. Her father is dead, but she is survived by her mother, her sister, Mrs. Swyers, two brothers, Miles and Henry I DeHaas both of Benner Township.
Funeral services were held in the Baptist church at Mileburg at 10 o'clock on Wednesday morning by Rev C.W. Mainwaring, burial being made in the Treziyulny cemetery.
One woman Killed, Two others injured on Milesburg train Trestle, Caught on bridge by milk train backing into Bellfonte Elizabeth DeHaas was killed instantly while her mother and sister had narrow escapes.
Miss Elizabeth DeHaas, 31 of Hunter's Park, was killed instantly about 12.50 o'clock on Sunday when she was run down by a milk train of eight cars on the railroad bridge near Central City, as it was backing into Bellefonte, and her mother, Mrs. Emma DeHaas and sister Mrs. Edna Swyers, miraculously escaped the same fate.
The three women had evidently attended church services and were on their way to the Swyers home, located near the point of the mountain south of Bald Eagle Creek. They parked their car alongside the highway and started to walk across the railroad bridge as a near cut to the Swyers home, something they had frequently done. It being Sunday, the women probably did not exercise due caution in the possibility of trains on the road.
When the train backed in the women were about the middle of the bridge. Mrs Swyers jumped and landed in the creek; her mother dropped down and clung to the iron structure with both hands, but Miss DeHaas, a cripple, was evidently so overcome with fright she was unable to make a move to save herself, was hit by the car, knocked down and her body wedged between the rail and the guardrail. Death was evidently instantaneous, because when finally released it was found that her chest and body were badly crushed and her right arm almost severed.
At an inquest, held at 10 o'clock on Monday morning, C.A.Kirkpatricck, conductor, testified that he was on the rear of the car as it was backing in; that the train was running at a speed of about 13 miles an hour, and when he saw the women he threw on the brakes which slowed the train, but not enough to prevent running down Miss DeHaas, who made no effort to save herself. At the inquest a number of people in the vicinity of the accident testified that the train crew had strictly observed all the customary precautions. That the whistle had been blown and bell signals given. The conductor's story was corroborated by other members of the train crew; C V Balin, brakeman, G Z Funk, engineer and C B Davidson fireman.
The accident delayed the milk train one hour and forty minutes. As soon as the train could be brought to the standstill the crew telephoned to Bellfonte for the ambulance and Mrs. DeHaas and Mrs. Swyers were brought to the Centre County hospital. Mrs Swyers suffered only minor injuries and after treatment in the infirmary was discharged. Her mother, Mrs. Emma DeHaas sustained cuts on the head, chest injuries and shock, but no serious injuries.
Elizabeth M DeHaas was a daughter of Daniel and Emma DeHaas and was born May 1st 1806. Her father is dead, but she is survived by her mother, her sister, Mrs. Swyers, two brothers, Miles and Henry I DeHaas both of Benner Township.
Funeral services were held in the Baptist church at Mileburg at 10 o'clock on Wednesday morning by Rev C.W. Mainwaring, burial being made in the Treziyulny cemetery.
