FATAL ACCIDENT AT A PORTAGE MINE A fatal mine accident occurred near Portage yesterday morning in which one man was killed, five others injured, three seriously by a fall of roof in a heading of the Hopfer mine of the Derry Hill Coal Mining Company. The accident is peculiar in its origin and happened as the men were going into work. The dead: James Murphy, Portage, aged 59 years and married. The injured: John Murphy, aged 21, son of James, hurt about the head and legs--may die. Gus Johnson, aged 45, married and living in Portage, injured about the head, condition very serious. William McCandlas, aged 25, living at Portage, back hurt, condition serious. John Denny, aged 22, living at Portage, both legs injured, body bruised and head cut, severe but not serious. Claude Conrad, aged 18, residing at Portage, foot injured slightly. The six men started into the mine about 7 o’clock, riding in one of the small mine cars used to convey coal to the tipple. When inside some distance a car jumped the track either accidentally or because a mule pulled it off the rails, and then the trouble began. The car struck a roof prop, which was weak at that point and knocked it out. The support given by the post being removed, a large portion of the roof tumbled down on the car and its occupants, killing James Murphy and causing the injuries of the five other men. DEATHS John A. Kennedy John A. Kennedy, a former well-known citizen of Cambria county, died at his home in Adrian, Nobles county, Minnesota, on Tuesday, August 14th, 1903, in the 70th year of his age. Mr. Kennedy was born in Carroll (now Barr township) this county, July 12th 1834, and was a son of Michael Kennedy, one of the early settlers of that vicinity. In 1851 he met with an accident while at work with a cider press which resulted later in the amputation of one of his legs below the knee. He then began qualifying himself for a teacher, which profession he followed for several years, making his home in Carrolltown, where he was elected a justice of the peace. During his residence in Carrolltown he was elected a county auditor and later (in 1867) a county commissioner. At the end of his term as commissioner, Mr. Kennedy was appointed commissioner’s clerk which position he filled until elected county treasurer in 1881. After his appointment as commissioner’s clerk, Mr. Kennedy took up his residence in Ebensburg where he remained until 1885 when he went west and located in Nobles county, Minnesota and during his residence there was twice elected register of deeds of that county. Mr. Kennedy was twice married, his first wife being Mary Ann Buck of Carroll township, who bore him three children, all of whom survive. His second wife was Eva A. Snyder of Clearfield county who with four children survive him. Squire Kennedy, as he was familiarly known to the older people of Cambria county had many friends who will recall his cheerful and obliging disposition and well regret to learn of his death. _________________________________________________________________ See what people are saying about Windows Live. Check out featured posts. http://www.windowslive.com/connect?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_connect2_082008