Johnstown, PA "Tribune" issue of Monday, 6 November 1916, p. 1

Conemaugh Men Killed in Terrible Wreck on New Portage Branch of P.R.R.

Frank Fry and R.C. Schrum Are Victims

FIVE OTHERS

Runaway Train Smashes Into Four Locomotives Near Hollidaysburg

By United Press

ALTOONA, Nov. 6--Seven trainmen were killed, two were injured and 47 loaded cars and five freight engines were demolished, when control of extra engine 2736, eastbound with a train of 60 cars, was lost near the top of the Allegheny Mountains this morning and the runaway dashed into four empty engines standing on the "Y" switches near Hollidaysburg.

Company officials said the wreck, which occurred on the New Portage Branch, is the worst on record, the financial loss reaching more than $100,000.

The dead:

ENGINEER A.L. RISING, Derry.
CONDUCTOR R.C. SCHRUM, 214 Oak street, Conemaugh.
ENGINEER R.C. JACKSON, Youngwood.
BRAKEMAN FRANK Fry, Fourth street, Conemaugh.
BRAKEMAN W.P. THOMPSON, Altoona.
BRAKEMAN J.H. GORTEN, Altoona.
ENGINEER W.A. BAKER, Juniata.

Injured:

T.E. Smith, Oak street, Conemaugh.
W.E. Horner, Altoona

The escape of a number of trainmen is regarded as miraculous. Among those who were in the wreck but who escaped were:

Oliver Baumgardner, West Point, Cambria County.
Claude Hall, Greeve street, Conemaugh.
M.H. Miller, Altoona.
J.E. Gates, Altoona.
S. Shaffer, Altoona.

Wrecking crews were tearing at the jumbled mass of steel and wood this afternoon. The bodies of all who were killed have not yet been recovered.

E.H. Gausman, of Johnstown, is the regular engineer of the ill-fated crew that left Conemaugh around midnight. He was off, however, and his place was filled by Rising, whose home is in Derry, but who has been working out of Conemaugh for some time.

J.E. Henderson, of Derry, is the regular conductor, but he has been off for several days on relief. Schrum, the regular flagman, acted as conductor, while Claude Hall, a brakeman, acted as flagman. Both Fry and Baumgardner are extra brakemen and not regular members of the Conemaugh crew.

[two paragraphs specific to victim, Frank Fry, omitted - ed.]

R.J. Schrum, of 214 Oak street, was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Schrum, of New Florence. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his widow, who was formerly Miss Mattie Evans, a daughter of Mrs. Rachael Evans, of 161 Third street, Conemaugh; by three children -- John, aged eight; Margaretta, aged 6; and Lois, aged three; and by three brothers and four sisters. The brothers are Christopher Schrum, jr., of Bolivar, and Fred and George Schrum, of New Florence.

Mr. Schrum was aged 33 years. He was a member of the Conemaugh United Evangelical Church.

[brief concluding statement about injured victim, T.E. Smith, omitted - ed.]
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Johnstown, PA "Tribune" issue of Tuesday, 7 November 1916, p. 16

RAILROAD VICTIMS TO BE BURIED THURSDAY

Rev. Clark in Charge of Schrum Funeral

[leading paragraph pertaining to the funeral of fellow accident victim Frank Fry, omitted - ed.]

Funeral services for Conductor Rufus J. Schrum will be held at the Schrum home on Oak street, Conemaugh, at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon by the Rev. James Clark, of the Conemaugh United Evangelical Church. Burial will be made in Headrick's Cemetery, about Conemaugh. Undertaker Pendry, prepared the remains for burial last evening and removed them to the Schrum home this morning.
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Johnstown, PA "Tribune" issue of Saturday, 11 November 1916, p. 16

FUNERAL OF R.J. SCHRUM

Services Were Conducted at Home of Deceased by Rev. Clark.

Funeral services for Rufus J. Schrum, the conductor who was killed in the wreck on the new Portage road, took place Thursday from the Schrum home in Conemaugh. The Rev. James Clark, pastor of the Conemaugh M.E. Church, was in charge. Burial was made in Headrick's Cemetery.

The pallbearers were members of his crew, as follows: Joseph E. Henderson, Claude Hall, William Ochenwrider, Earl Slick, William Fright, and Irvin August.

The relatives and friends here from out of the city for the services were Mr. and Mrs. John Morris and family, of Carnegie; Mrs. W.A. Wilson and sons, Charles, Walter, and Forest, of Scottdale; Misses Stella and Geraldine Schrum, of Blairsville; Mrs. Frank Wilson, of Freeport; Mr. and Mrs. C.L. Schrum, jr., and William Henderson, of Bolivar; Mr. and Mrs. C.L. Schrum and son, George Schrum; Mr. and Mrs. Harry Davis, Mrs. Taylor Hull, Mrs. Rebecca Caldwell, and Charles Caldwell, all of New Florence; J.E. Henderson, of Derry; Mr. and Mrs. Clingensmith, of Millwood; Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Schrum, of Oakhurst; Mr. and Mrs. Byron Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rowland, Mr. and Mrs. Alex Evans, Mr. and Mrs. Eldon Evans, Mrs. Evan Griffith, Mrs. Marshall Rowland, Mrs. Daniel Davis, Mrs. Sherman Griffith, Miss Allie Evans, all of Ebensburg; Mrs. Charles Walker, of Altoona; Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Wagner, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Nagle and Carl Naugle, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Wagner, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Wagner, Roy, Emanuel, John and Sarah Wagner, and Mrs. Sullivan, all of Johnstown.
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Rufus Schrum was related to my Dad. Looking for information on shcrum's in the Westmoreland, Cambria County areas. Rufus' wife Mattie (Evans) was related to Samuel Wagner who was my Dad's Grandpa. Looking for any information on Hannah Kane Wagner who died in 1858 in Cambria County and hoping that the Schrum's might be able to tell me where their great grandmother (Hannah) is buried.