Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-05-11
DISTRESSING & FATAL ACCIDENTSA
From the Stirling Journal, March 9.

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From the Stirling Journal, March 9.
Francis PATTERSON, an industrious workman
at Devon Iron works, had on Tuesday the 2Sth
ult. been, with four Of his sons and daughter,
engaged in driving level in one OF the Compa.
ny's coal pits; and about O'Clock in theNafters
noon, the whole were assembled at the bottom
of the shaft, waiting for bucket to take them
up. The Golfers all having left their work,
and no engine going to draw them to the top
they were about repairing to another pit, ID
which there is stair provided for the ascent Of
the workmen, (and by which they are express
ly enjoined to go and return from their work.
when they heard some people in the shaft chang.
whom they ordered 10 tell the engineman at the
top TO draw them up, which they neglected to
do, so that when the engine started it was only
to place, as usual, the buckets in mid-pit till
next day, and consequently one guard was ia
ken away from the safety Of their ascent.
Their case was now truly awful, and infinitely
more so on account of their being fully alive 10
their danger, which was evident from the Bit
ter cries Of the poor girl, and the agonizing
frantic shrieks Of her little brother, while at
tempting 10 make himself heard by the engine
man above When they had assembled upwards
OF one hundred feet, the sound reached the top,
and the man at the engine suspecting something
wrong, Immediately reversed the motion, but
this only reversed the catastrophe; for, the buck
ct beginning to descend, the bottom was caught
on the framework Of the pit, and tearing off
| the iron band or lug, in which the only hook
! was fixed, dropt, and precipitated the whole to
the bottom. Humanity shoulders TO carry her
eye to the sequel The poor girl, who had
just attained her 10th year, was in a moment
dashed on the iron plates which cover the
bottom, and dreadfully mangled; the elder boy,
who was about / years of age, by the same
rough passage, was hurried into eternity; and
the third, who is years old, was also taken up
for dead; while the father and the other two
sons very narrowly escaped being crushed to
de ath by the descending bucket and their help.
less relatives Words cannot paint the scene
which presented itself TO those who descended
10 this scene of blood, when amid the silent
gloom of everlasting night, they discovered, by
the feeble glimmerings Of an expiring lamp,
one living brother, with dead brother on his
knees-anothef with q dead sister, and the dis
tracted parent supporting the apparently life.
less corpse of the third member Of his family
The announcement Of all this to feeling
mother, may be more easily conceived than de-
scribed; but when she was told that her husband
and two sons was safe, gratitude TO kind Prov
idence seemed greatly to restrain the struggling
emotions Of her wounded heart; and when it
was discovered that the spark Of life sill lin
gered in one Of her boys, hope, with her smiles
enlightening futurity, and with her heavenly ac-
cents, justifying the ways Of Providence, engag-
ed for while OH her all mothers unwearying
and solicitous attention, and as her heart clung
round the living child, it tended in great mea.
sure TO divert her thoughts from the more dis.
astrous portion of her sufferings. We are glad
to announce that the youngest boy is now in a
fair way of recovery, though he met with
fractured thigh and arm, and was otherwise
much bruised.
A marriage notice has been sent to the edi-
tor of the Yates Republican, IN. W for publ
cation, having appended to it the following pro-
viso;-"7his couple were married on condition that
the usual fee be paid the justice witAn month,
otherwiss the contract 10 be void."-This reminds
US Of patriotic old magistrate Of this county,
now deceased, whose mind dweIt continually
upon the success Of the recruiting service during
the revolutionary struggle, and who, on being
called upon 10 marry couple, pronounced
them husband and wife for three gears, and du-
ring The mar. But the young votaries of hymen
not relishing SO short an engagement, were a.
their own request, tackled together for life.
". y Aduocote.