This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Keim, Deemer, Lydic, Lydick Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/UaB.2ACE/3297 Message Board Post: Indiana, PA “Indiana Evening Gazette” issue of Friday, 25 November 1908, p. 1, col. 1 FRED KEIM MET DEATH ON THE RAILROAD After Acting As Though Demented He Stepped in Front of a Train. HE WAS IN NEW FLORENCE It is Believed the Unfortunate Was Enroute Home From Portage. BROTHER BRINGING THE BODY While crossing the Pennsylvania tracks at New Florence at 6:55 o’clock Tuesday evening, Nov. 24, Fred (Casey) Keim, of North Eleventh street, was run down by a fast freight and instantly killed. A brother, Clyde Keim, went to New Florence this morning and will bring the remains here this evening. Relatives here are at a loss to understand Keim’s reasons for being in New Florence, as he had been working on an oil pipe line in the vicinity of Portage when they last heard from him. A letter written by one of Keim’s sisters and addressed to Portage shows that he was in that town several days ago. One of the last persons who conversed with Keim was William McNeely, of Centerville. Less than an hour before the young man met his tragic death he was seen in Centerville. He wandered about as though at a loss where to go and when accosted by McNeely said he did not know where he was. After a few minutes conversation, McNeely managed to learn that the man’s home was in Indiana and he directed him to a hotel in New Florence, saying that he could not get a train for home until morning. Keim soon reached the P.R.R. depot in New Florence. There he crossed and re-crossed the dangerous Ligonier street grade crossing several times even though several trains were then due. Bystanders stated that the man acted as though temporarily demented and they could not keep him from the tracks. Several persons were still watching Keim when a “P.G.,” (a fast stock train) hove into view from the East. Keim also saw the train but made little effort to clear the track before the pilot struck him. He was hurled to another track and died almost instantly. A mark on the head and several bruises on the limbs are the only visible indications of his being struck by the train, and it is believed the fractured skull that produced death came from his alighting on the road-bed. The remains were removed to the undertaking rooms of O.M. Bennett, where they were prepared for burial. He interviewed a number of persons who had witnessed the fatality and reported it to the authorities. He also learned that Keim resided here and had Thomas Daugherty inform the relatives of his death. Fred Keim was born in Indiana about 26 years ago. For the past few months he had been employed on the pipe line work at Reed station, going to Portage with a crew of these men. His mother, Mrs. Ellen Keim, and one of the younger daughters are in Colorado, where they went in the interest of Mrs. Keim’s health. Mrs. Lydick, another sister, lives in Windber, and another sister is in the Scotland Industrial school in Franklin county. The two surviving boys of the family, Clyde and Bazil, resided here. The funeral arrangements will be completed by Clyde upon his arrival here this evening. _________________________________________________ Indiana, PA “Indiana Evening Gazette” issue of Friday, 27 November 1908, p. 1, col. 4 Funeral of Fred Keim. Funeral services over the remains of Fred Keim, who met death on the railroad at New Florence on Tuesday, were held at the family home, corner of Oak and Eleventh streets, this forenoon, being conducted by Dr. J. Day Brownlee, of the First U.P. church. The interment followed in Oakland cemetery. _________________________________________________ Indiana, PA “The Indiana Progress” issue of Wednesday, 2 December 1908, p. 1, col. 6 YOUNG MAN MET TRAGIC DEATH AT NEW FLORENCE Fred Kime was Struck by Freight Car While Standing Near Station. While standing near the Pennsylvania railroad station at New Florence Tuesday evening of last week, Fred Kime, formerly of this place, was struck by a passing freight car, and instantly killed. The train was traveling at a high speed and one of the rear cars in swinging hit Mr. Kime on the right shoulder, hurling him to the ground. His head struck a projecting tie in the road side, causing a fracture of the skull that resulted in instant death. The remains were taken to a New Florence undertaker and Wednesday evening were brought here to the home of his brother, Clyde Kime, for interment in Greenwood cemetery Friday. The deceased was 25 years old and single. He was employed at Portage by the Standard Oil Company. His mother, Mrs. L.E. Kime, left Indiana about six weeks ago to spend the winter with her daughter, Mrs. George Moore, of Salida, Colo. In addition to those named, three other sisters, Mrs. Harry Lydick, of Windber and Misses Alta and Freeda, of Scotland, Pa., are l! iving. _________________________________________________ Indiana, PA “Indiana Weekly Messenger” issue of Wednesday, 2 December 1908, p. 1, col. 4 ACCIDENTALLY KILLED. Fred Keim, of North Eleventh Street, Struck by Train at New Florence. Fred Keim, better known as “Casey,” was instantly killed at New Florence November 25th. The man had been working on the pipe line at Portage when his friends here last heard from him, and from the way he acted his mind was unbalanced from some cause and did not seem to realize his danger. The day was spent in Centerville, across the river from New Florence, and the persons who talked to him said he seemed dazed as though he did not know where he was nor where he wanted to go. In the evening he crossed to New Florence when a fast stock train came along and he was struck by the pilot and hurled to the other track and killed instantly. Clyde Keim, a brother, was notified and he went Wednesday morning and had the body brought to his home here on Wednesday evening, from whence interment was made Friday. Fred Keim was 25 years old. He was a son of Mrs. Ella Letitia Keim, who recently went to Colorado for her health. His father is dead. He is survived by two brothers, Basil and Clyde, of Indiana. Three sisters also survive. One lives in Colorado, another in Scotland, Pa., and the other is Mrs. Maude Lydic, of Windber. _________________________________________________