This story comes from the pages of the Northumberland County Democrat, August 19, 1881:
James Lower, a young man about eighteen years of age, son of Joseph Lower, of this place, was killed at Millersburg. He and a number of other boys have been in the habit of jumping on the freight trains and riding from here to to Millersburg, or up to Georgetown. Last evening young Lower boarded a train bound south, and it is supposed stopped with his brother, living in Millersburg; the two intending to go to Dauphin the next morning. When the freight trains came along they attempted to get on, and young Lower by some means missing his hold, fell across the track and had the top of his head cut off just above the eyes. It is said that he was drunk, and that bottle of whiskey, almost full, was found in one of his pockets when they picked him up. This is another warning to boys who jump on freight trains, and it must be a crushing blow to the practice of selling liquor to boys, who, when in possession of a bottle of whiskey, imagine themselves wonderful, and think it manly to become drunk.
But the Harrisburg Daily Independent, August 16, 1881, had told a slightly different story of the event:
James Lower, son of Joseph Lower, of Mahantongo station, Upper Paxton Township, this county, was killed a Millersburg Sunday morning, while attempting to board a freight train. Lower was seventeen years of age. He had two revolvers on his person, and was bound for Texas.
Multiple other newspapers told the same story as was found in the Independent.
Joseph Lower (1819-1889), the father, was a Civil War veteran, having served in the 183rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C, as a Private, from December 24, 1863 to June 3, 1865. James’ brother, mentioned in the article above, was probably William Henry Lower (1847-1920), who was living in Millersburg in 1880 and working as a laborer. William was also a Civil War veteran, having joined the United States Cavalry late in the war. William Lower was a charter member of the G. A. R. Post at Millersburg.
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[PA183-I] [USA-C]