Owen Shoaf ^{1 2}

  Noted events in his life were:

• His obituary was published. Shoaf Crushed Beneath the Wreckage - Was main Support of his Mother.
Smithfield, Aug 20 - A distressing wreck on B & O R. R. yard here last night about 9 o'clock cost Oran J. Shoaf his life. The Engine was in charge of Smiley McGaughlin of this place and had just brought a load of coke in from Lechrone and made up a load of 10 empties to take back. The switchman claims he had opened up the switch leading onto the main track and as the grade is heavy at this point it was necessary for them to get up good speed in order to make the grade on the main track. Before they reached the switch one of the crew, Snyder Hague, saw the switch leading on the main track was closed but he was unable to give the engineer warning in time as the engine was behind the train and they crashed into the switch, upsetting and crushing ten of the empty cars. Brakeman Shoaf was sitting on the top of steel car and he was thrown quite a distance across the main track. he was found under one of the cars where he had been instantly killed. His neck was broken and his body had to be dug out of the bank where he lay crushed by the huge steel car.
Mr. Shoaf was about 22 years old, and was a son of Sarah Shoaf who keeps boarding house (2012 notation: Address of Sarah's former boarding house: 80 Liberty Street. The house was torn down earlier this year. - Jamie Robinson) near the B & O station. He was a steady worker and his mother will have the sympathy of the people here, as he was her main help. Only a few years ago Mrs. Shoaf's daughter was badly crippled while boarding a train at Allenport. The only other person that was hurt was Snyder Hague one of the train crew who had some slight bruises and two teeth knocked out.
Coroner Hagan was notified and an inquest will be held this afternoon.
The funeral will be conducted from the Baptist church at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon, August 21, 1904
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