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Note: H00117
Note: Charles' obituary as it appeared in the Reading Eagle (Reading, PA):
"SAD DEATH BLOW"
"Eagle reporters in many sorrowful scenes in their daily work. Brakeman Mengel killed - Happy Family Suddenly Turned Late Mourning.
Eagle reporters meet with many scenes and incidents in their daily routine work. Today one of the reporters was detailed to write up the fatal accident to a Reading railroad brakeman above Pottstown. The unfortunate man lived in Reading. When the Eagle reporter arrived at his house the brakeman's wife was busy with her daily toil. She had not heard a word of the awful accident to her husband. The reporter gradually broke the news, told the wife her husband had been injured at Pottstown, badly injured: that it was a bad thing to tell her, but her husband was dead. The poor woman sank into a chair, overwhelmed with grief.
The unfortunate man was Charles H. Mengel living at 526 North 11th. He was employed on a freight train and passed through Reading this forenoon for Phila. near Pottstown, Mr. Mengel was standing on the top of a freight car and failed to notice the overhead bridge near Stowe station, he was struck and thrown on the roof of the car. The train was running 15 miles an hour and the blow was so severe as to cause almost instant death. The body was taken to Pottstown.
The Eagle heard of the accident and the reporter went to the house. Mr. Mengel's eldest son, aged 13, was leaving home for school, a happy, bright-eyed lad.
The reporter surmised that the boy knew nothing of the accident. 'Don't go', he was told, which alarmed him. Then Mrs. Mengel was told of the accident and recovered from the first shock, she seized a younger son in her arms and exclaimed: 'Oh Earl, you will never see your papa again. He is dead.' Shortly afterward the P. & R. messenger called and also informed the family.
Deceased had been employed by the Reading Company some years, he having been a freight conductor on the Lebanon Valley, but had quit railroading for a time. He was born near Molino, Schuylkill County.
Besides his widow, nee Baver, these children survive Arthur C., aged 13, and Earl L., aged 4; his sisters and brothers Mrs Lizzie Coldren, Harrisburg; Misses Sallie and Martha Mengel, Mrs Sarah Mengel, near Molino; John, Sam'l and Joseph, of Molino, and Seth of Port Clinton; His aged mother resides with one of her daughters.
Mr. Mengel came to Reading about 15 years ago. He was at home for a short time Tuesday afternoon, and when he passed through Reading to-day he seemed in the best of spirits.
Mr. Mengel was a hard worker and very popular among railroaders. He was a member of St. Stephen's Reformed Church, Reading; Hamburg lodge of Odd Fellows and the P. & R. Relief association. The Body was brought to Reading." [aged 39 years, 10 months and 27 days].
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