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| Obituary Index PENROD, Ettinger |
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| Johnstown Tribune, 24 May 1907, Page 1, Contributed by Sharon Trosan |
| Smothered in a large corn bin. South Fork lad met awful fate this morning. Drawn into a hopper. Occurred in a feed store conducted by J. E. Crisman. Victim whose name was Ettinger Penrod, was playing in the grain when workmen below opened funnel and let down the contents of the big box, weighing several tons. South Fork, May 24--Smothered to death under several tons of shelled corn in one of the large bins at the J. E. Crisman feed store here, was the awful fate of Ettinger Penrod, son of Mrs. and Mrs. Samuel Penrod, well-known people of this place, almost 11:30 o'clock this morning. With two other boys, young Penrod was playing about the bins, a pastime in which a number of lads from the town have engaged for many days past. Penrod was the only one in the bin this morning, his companions watching him from the floor above, and unconscious of his presence, workmen on the lower floor began letting down the grain in order to hoist it on an elevator into another bin. It was some time before the imperiled lad was aware of the fact that the great mass of corn was getting farther and farther away from the top of the bin. He suddenly realized that the grain was slipping from beneath him, and with a look of horror on his face attempted to gain the edge of his prison. Like quicksand, the corn drew him down until it covered his hips, making it impossible for him to use the lower part of his body. Farther the boy sank, and as the corn reached his neck, then touched his chin, he gave a terrifying scream and the unmerciful little yellow kernels filled his mouth, covered his head, and in a few seconds even his uplifted hands were lost to view. It all happened in such a short space of time, and the companions of the unfortunate lad were so bewildered at the sight, that young Penrod was nearly covered before they summoned assistance. Terrified, the two boys ran down stairs, told what had occurred and the six-inch funnel was closed. The men in charge of the mill then went to look for themselves. Action on their part must be speedy if they wished to save the lad. The funnel was again opened and some boards were torn off the hopper, releasing the remaining corn more quickly. It was probably a half hour, however, from the time the lad was covered until he was released, as there were 600 bushels of corn to be let down and when Penrod was finally reached, he was dead. Little blame for the accident can be placed on the men in charge of the mill. They did not know any one except themselves was in the building this morning when the accident occurred, and made on investigation before beginning to shift the grain from one bin to another, which is done occasionally in order to keep it from getting too warm and musty. The bins themselves are about eight feet high, while the hoppers are of about the same depth. Johnstown Tribune; Fri, May 24, 1907 p1 |
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