Obituary - Harold McCoy
Grace McCoy
East Liverpool Tribune
Brother and Sister Are Hit by Eastbound Evening Train and Instantly Killed East of City
Harold McCoy, aged 21 years, a packer at the Taylor, Smith & Taylor pottery, Chester, W. Va., and sister, Grace aged 13, until last week residents of East Liverpool, were struck and almost instantly killed by eastbound C. & P, passenger train 304, opposite the Hamilton residence, Smiths Ferry, last evening, (April 3, 1911) shortly after 7 o'clock.
The girl was literally cut in two, while the brother was injured so badly that he lived but a few seconds afterwards.
The accident is one of the saddest and most deplorable in recent years because of the circumstances attending the double tragedy.
Young Man Only Support Of Aged Mother
McCoy, the only support of his aged mother, Mrs. Eva McCoy, together with his sister Grace, were returning to their home on Little Dry run, near Smiths Ferry, from Chester, where Harold had completed his day's work, and where Grace had assisted in the moving of a sister, Mrs. William Parsons, now residing at Fifth and Dunn streets, that city. Only last week the family removed from Fifth and Walnut streets, East Liverpool to the little home near Smiths Ferry.
Failed to Hear Trains
The two had just alighted from the street car and were making their way over the hill in order to cross the tracks and then reach their home. Evidently the wind cut off the sound of the approaching eastbound passenger train.
Both Harold and Grace stepped out of the way of a westbound freight passing at the time and directly into the path of the eastbound passenger. The girl was drawn under the wheels and cut in twain, her body being badly mangled. Death was instantaneous.
Harold was struck by the pilot and thrown against the side of the passing freight train. The pilot struck him directly in the stomach while his head was badly crushed, probably by the blow against the freight cars. The body rebounded on the eastbound track, falling under the wheels, where one arm was nearly severed.
Canary Bird Dies of Fright
A bird cage which the girl carried and which contained a canary bird which she was taking home in an effort to gladden and make more cheerful their domicile, was practically unharmed. However, the sweet throated bird was so badly frightened that after feebly endeavoring to sing, it toppled over cold in death.
Witnesses of the accident, Will Nattel, Mrs. Daniel Quinn, Ray Lewiston and a number of others rushed to the scene. However, they found the girl already dead and after gasping a few times, the brother succumbed. The bodies were taken to the Smiths Ferry station, where they will be kept until this morning and then conveyed to the little home in Dry Run.
Mother Collapses When Told
Mrs. Eva McCoy, the mother, was not aware that her children were returning home, thinking they were going to remain a the home of the sister in Chester until this evening. For this reason, and because of her feeble condition, the news was not broken to her until about 10 o'clock last night. Dr. O. M. Hendershot of Pennsylvania avenue, East End, broke the news to he bereaved mother. She almost collapsed and was in a serious condition late last night.
Eye Witness Also Collapses
Mrs. Daniel Quinn, an eye witness of the accident, also collapsed. Immediately afterwards and was carried to her home nearby. She went into convulsions and early this morning was in a serious condition.
The accident happened in what is known as Glasgow, borough about one-half mile from the Smiths Ferry station and opposite the Hamilton residence. During the last two years two other people have also met instant death at the same spot, which is dangerously located.
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