The Sad Fate of Mabel Elizabeth Irvin

This post recounts yet another tragic event in the family of James Irvin. Before this horrific accident, the Irvins had already suffered the disappearance and unsolved murder of Mac.  A railroad mishap crippled Harvey. Ida died far too soon, widowing James at age 53 and leaving the youngest child, Grace, without her mother at only nine years of age. And early in 1929, fire consumed and destroyed Bessie's home. But later that same year, another fire would bring unimaginable pain to the Irvin family.

Mabel Elizabeth was a younger sister to Wilmer Irvin. On November 3, 1897, she became the ninth child born to James and Ida Irvin.

The following article appeared in the Chambersburg Public Opinion on Monday, November 25, 1929.

     Mrs. Mabel Irvin Peters, wife of Andrew Peters, was fatally burned last evening, about 5 o'clock, when a lamp exploded at her home at Brandon. Mrs. Peters was preparing to go to the cellar to get some fruit and as the electric light is not near enough to illuminate the fruit cupboard in the cellar, she lighted a kerosene lamp in the pantry which leads to the cellar. There was an explosion and Mrs. Peters' clothing caught fire from the flaming oil. As Mrs. Peters entered the pantry she told her oldest son, Eugene, to tell his father, who was in his automobile ready to leave the premises, to wait as she wanted to speak to him. When Mr. Peters re-entered the house he found his wife in flames. She was taken in the Good Will ambulance to the Chambersburg Hospital, where she died at 7:45 this morning.
     She is survived by her husband, four children, Eugene, Grace, Andrew Jr. and Bernard, all at home, her father, James Irvin of Harrisburg, and these brothers and sisters, John and Harvey Irvin of Harrisburg, and these brothers and sisters, John and Harvey Irvin of Philadelphia, Wilmer and Ralph Irvin of Harrisburg, Russel Irvin of Johnstown, Mrs. Bessie Rockwell and Mrs. C. J. Gossert of Shippensburg, Mrs. Martin Shipley of Ohiophile, and Mrs. W. D. Rummler of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

(Please note that the above article is transcribed exactly as it appeared with editing errors and misspellings.)

How Uncle Harvey Lost His Leg

Wilmer Harry Irvin's older brother, Harvey Rossman Irvin, was born on September 29, 1883. James and Ida Irvin were only 21 years-old and 18 years-old, respectively, when their third child was born.

Though we now know very little about Uncle Harvey, we have not forgotten his missing limb. It has often been said that Uncle Harvey walked on a peg leg. Recollection of the mishap that disabled Uncle Harvey has long since faded. Here, to help keep alive our memory of Harvey Rossman Irvin, is the account of the unfortunate and tragic incident as it appeared in a Chambersburg newspaper.

The Franklin Repository, Chambersburg PA
January 8, 1908
Page 2
Date of event: Friday January 3, 1908

________________

LEG AMPUTATED.

Brakeman Irvin Injured in Yards at this Place

STRUCK BY FREIGHT TRAIN

Thrown Under Heavy Engine and Run Over - Taken To Hospital Where Injuries Were Attended to.

     About 6 o'clock Friday morning Harvey Irvin, of Loudon street, a freight brakeman on the C.V.R.R., met with an accident in the yards at this place, which cost him his right leg.
     Irvin is a brakeman on one of the coal trains running between Chambersburg and Martinsburg. Friday morning he was at the coal chute where his engine was being coaled preparatory to going out on its run. He was standing on the west bound track while a freight was passing into the yard on the east bound track. Irvin failed to notice freight No. 81 pulling out on the track on which he was standing. He was knocked to the side of the track and the engine had passed over his right foot and lower part of the leg. He was picked up by some other employees, placed on engine 87 and taken to Market street, where the ambulance conveyed him to the hospital.
     It was found that the foot and leg were so badly crushed that amputation just below the knee was necessary. At last reports he was doing well.
     Irvin is well known in town having been a motorman on the C. & G. trolley.