Easton Express Oct. 29, 1907 p. 8
ENGINEER KILLED
George Lear Crushed Under Heavy
Locomotive the Ran Into Freight Cars
A serious wreck occurred at 5:10 o'clock this morning on the Central railroad, about one mile west of Hampton Junction. Engineer George Lear, of Heckman Street, this place was killed.
Engine No. 419, in charge of Engineer Lear and Fireman William Davis, of Mercer Street, was the first engine of a "double-header" fast freight, known as the Allentown freight, on its way east. A shifting engine with a few cars had orders to pull into a siding at West End to allow the freight to pass.
A new brakeman on the shifting crew is said to be responsible for the accident. Instead of throwing the siding switch he is said to have opened a switch which allowed the shifting engine to pull across the main track, directly in the path of the east-bound freight, which was going at the rate of 25 miles an hour.
Engineer Lear saw the danger when less than a hundred yards away. He blew his whistle for brakes and a moment later blew again, and then applied the emergency brakes, but owing to the west rails and the weight of his train, which consisted of 45 cars, was unable to avoid the collision.
The force of the collision threw the engine on its side. Mr. Lear was buried beneath it. Fireman Davis jumped when he saw the smashup was inevitable and escaped with a severe scalp wound and a few bruises. Besides the engine a number of freight cars were badly smashed.
Mr. Lear resided with his father-in-law, James E. Potts, on Heckman Street. He was 48 years of age, and a member of Montana Lodge No. 23, K. O P., and the B. of L. F. and B. of L. E. of this place.
_______________________________
He was a son of
Anthony Lehr and Margaret M. Lehr Souders
______________________
According to the records of:
Wesley Methodist Church
Phillipsburg NJ, Warren Co.
page 19
George W. Lear 22 yrs. old, born in Phillipsburg NJ
married
Mary C. Potts 18 yrs. old, born in Phillipsburg NJ
December 15, 1883
ENGINEER KILLED
George Lear Crushed Under Heavy
Locomotive the Ran Into Freight Cars
A serious wreck occurred at 5:10 o'clock this morning on the Central railroad, about one mile west of Hampton Junction. Engineer George Lear, of Heckman Street, this place was killed.
Engine No. 419, in charge of Engineer Lear and Fireman William Davis, of Mercer Street, was the first engine of a "double-header" fast freight, known as the Allentown freight, on its way east. A shifting engine with a few cars had orders to pull into a siding at West End to allow the freight to pass.
A new brakeman on the shifting crew is said to be responsible for the accident. Instead of throwing the siding switch he is said to have opened a switch which allowed the shifting engine to pull across the main track, directly in the path of the east-bound freight, which was going at the rate of 25 miles an hour.
Engineer Lear saw the danger when less than a hundred yards away. He blew his whistle for brakes and a moment later blew again, and then applied the emergency brakes, but owing to the west rails and the weight of his train, which consisted of 45 cars, was unable to avoid the collision.
The force of the collision threw the engine on its side. Mr. Lear was buried beneath it. Fireman Davis jumped when he saw the smashup was inevitable and escaped with a severe scalp wound and a few bruises. Besides the engine a number of freight cars were badly smashed.
Mr. Lear resided with his father-in-law, James E. Potts, on Heckman Street. He was 48 years of age, and a member of Montana Lodge No. 23, K. O P., and the B. of L. F. and B. of L. E. of this place.
_______________________________
He was a son of
Anthony Lehr and Margaret M. Lehr Souders
______________________
According to the records of:
Wesley Methodist Church
Phillipsburg NJ, Warren Co.
page 19
George W. Lear 22 yrs. old, born in Phillipsburg NJ
married
Mary C. Potts 18 yrs. old, born in Phillipsburg NJ
December 15, 1883
Easton Express Oct. 29, 1907 p. 8
ENGINEER KILLED
George Lear Crushed Under Heavy
Locomotive the Ran Into Freight Cars
A serious wreck occurred at 5:10 o'clock this morning on the Central railroad, about one mile west of Hampton Junction. Engineer George Lear, of Heckman Street, this place was killed.
Engine No. 419, in charge of Engineer Lear and Fireman William Davis, of Mercer Street, was the first engine of a "double-header" fast freight, known as the Allentown freight, on its way east. A shifting engine with a few cars had orders to pull into a siding at West End to allow the freight to pass.
A new brakeman on the shifting crew is said to be responsible for the accident. Instead of throwing the siding switch he is said to have opened a switch which allowed the shifting engine to pull across the main track, directly in the path of the east-bound freight, which was going at the rate of 25 miles an hour.
Engineer Lear saw the danger when less than a hundred yards away. He blew his whistle for brakes and a moment later blew again, and then applied the emergency brakes, but owing to the west rails and the weight of his train, which consisted of 45 cars, was unable to avoid the collision.
The force of the collision threw the engine on its side. Mr. Lear was buried beneath it. Fireman Davis jumped when he saw the smashup was inevitable and escaped with a severe scalp wound and a few bruises. Besides the engine a number of freight cars were badly smashed.
Mr. Lear resided with his father-in-law, James E. Potts, on Heckman Street. He was 48 years of age, and a member of Montana Lodge No. 23, K. O P., and the B. of L. F. and B. of L. E. of this place.
_______________________________
He was a son of
Anthony Lehr and Margaret M. Lehr Souders
______________________
According to the records of:
Wesley Methodist Church
Phillipsburg NJ, Warren Co.
page 19
George W. Lear 22 yrs. old, born in Phillipsburg NJ
married
Mary C. Potts 18 yrs. old, born in Phillipsburg NJ
December 15, 1883
ENGINEER KILLED
George Lear Crushed Under Heavy
Locomotive the Ran Into Freight Cars
A serious wreck occurred at 5:10 o'clock this morning on the Central railroad, about one mile west of Hampton Junction. Engineer George Lear, of Heckman Street, this place was killed.
Engine No. 419, in charge of Engineer Lear and Fireman William Davis, of Mercer Street, was the first engine of a "double-header" fast freight, known as the Allentown freight, on its way east. A shifting engine with a few cars had orders to pull into a siding at West End to allow the freight to pass.
A new brakeman on the shifting crew is said to be responsible for the accident. Instead of throwing the siding switch he is said to have opened a switch which allowed the shifting engine to pull across the main track, directly in the path of the east-bound freight, which was going at the rate of 25 miles an hour.
Engineer Lear saw the danger when less than a hundred yards away. He blew his whistle for brakes and a moment later blew again, and then applied the emergency brakes, but owing to the west rails and the weight of his train, which consisted of 45 cars, was unable to avoid the collision.
The force of the collision threw the engine on its side. Mr. Lear was buried beneath it. Fireman Davis jumped when he saw the smashup was inevitable and escaped with a severe scalp wound and a few bruises. Besides the engine a number of freight cars were badly smashed.
Mr. Lear resided with his father-in-law, James E. Potts, on Heckman Street. He was 48 years of age, and a member of Montana Lodge No. 23, K. O P., and the B. of L. F. and B. of L. E. of this place.
_______________________________
He was a son of
Anthony Lehr and Margaret M. Lehr Souders
______________________
According to the records of:
Wesley Methodist Church
Phillipsburg NJ, Warren Co.
page 19
George W. Lear 22 yrs. old, born in Phillipsburg NJ
married
Mary C. Potts 18 yrs. old, born in Phillipsburg NJ
December 15, 1883
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