DAVID L. PURDY

Dies from Injuries Received in Wreck of Lehigh Train at Harford Mills

   David L. Purdy of Smithville died at the home of B. H. Loomis in Harford Mills December 15, 1919, aged 72 years and six months.

   Mr. Purdy has been in the habit of visiting his old friend, B. H. Loomis, at Harford Mills each fall at about this time.  Accompanied by Mrs. Purdy he made this annual trip and on Wednesday, December 10, he and his wife took a train on the Lehigh Railroad, southbound, which leaves Harford Mills about 10 o'clock in the morning.  Some two miles from the station an axle under the locomotive broke and derailed it and the train.  The passenger coaches were overturned and several of the passengers injured.  Mr. and Mrs. Purdy were sitting together when the accident happened and Mr. Purdy was thrown from his seat and for some distance forward.  He received several bruises about the head and one ankle was injured but his principal injuries were internal.  It was seen that he was in need of medical attention, and he was removed as soon as possible to the home of his friend, B. H. Loomis, to whom he had said good-bye but a short time before, by Robert Wavle, son of Augustus Wavle of this village, who with a number of others living near the scene of the wreck had come to render such assistance as they could.

   His brother Frank of this place was notified of the accident and on receiving later information that David might not live, left here very early last Friday morning for his brother's bedside.  David's principal injury was to his spine and nothing could be done to save him.  He died early Monday morning, December 15.

   Everything that could possibly be done to relieve the suffering man or render easier the blow to his wife and relatives was done by the good friends at Harford.  They proved good Samaritans indeed.

   David L. Purdy was born in McDonough, June 12, 1847, the son of Charles and Orphia Purdy.  His life was been spent mostly in the towns of Smithville and McDonough where he attended school and later worked at his life avocation as a farmer.  He conducted farms in Smithville for a time and finally purchased the farm of B. H. Loomis in that town.  He was twice married, his first wife was Hanna Brown of Smithville and on December 12, 1916, he married Margaret Barr of Smithville.  He is survived by his wife and two children, Mrs. Erwin Butler of Smithville, and Lewis D. Purdy of McDonough, three brothers, Frank and Henry A. Purdy of Oxford, and James Purdy of McDonough, and a sister, Mrs. Erwin I. Moore of Oxford.

   His funeral was held from his home Thursday at 1 p.m., Rev. W. T. Webb officiating.  Burial was made in the McDonough cemetery.