Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-11-22
DISTRE SSING CALAMITY.
Am Interesting Youth Killed Under
Heartrending circumstances.


Heartrending circumstances.
1t has become our painful duty this
morning TO chronicle one OF the saddest
occurrences that has happened in this vi
cinity in long time, by which promis-
ing son of one of our best fellow-citizsns
was killed in a shocking manner, family
overwhelmed with grief, and an entire
neighborhood filled with gloom. The sad
event happened IN this way. Dr. Charlton,
who lives out near the Murfreesboro turn
pike, five miles from the city, has several
sons, and among the number an intelligent
lad named Robert, fourteen years Of age.
One day last week the boys had felled
tree not far from their fathers residence.
The tree was an oak, twenty-four inches
thick at the stump, with a curving or bow
ed trunk. As the tree fell the stump end
slid from the stump aud lodged upon
gnarled root, the top Of the tree so falling
that the bow was uppermost, leaving the
central portion Of the trunk several yards
above the ground. In this condition the
fallen tree remained stationary, the top
braced as it had fallen, and the butt against
the stump, considerable space being be-
tween the trunk and the ground in the
centre. This description is necessary o a
correct understanding of the fatal accident.
On Sunday, near II o'clock, Robert Chsrl-
ton, the unfortunate lad referred TO, aud
his younger brother, in company with
little boy named Charles Cole, were ipno-
Gently playing near the tree or log, as the
limbs had all been trimmed Off In their
mirthfulness they went up the log to the
center of the bow, and were seated upon it
enjoying the springing motion which its Pc
culiar position afforded. While thus engag-
ed, and in the highest Of boyish glee, in such
sports as come to us all at but one period
of lifetime, the top bracing of the log
gave way. II suddenly careened to the
right and fell fully upon the ground. AS
it fell the younger brother was thrown a
distance of some ten feet, and Charles
Cole jumped in the opposite direction,
both escaping unhurt. Robert was caught
between the log and the ground as it fell
and was killed outright. His head and
chest were caught under the log and were
badly mashed and lacerated The other
two bows rushed to him. He was seen to
make a writhing, spasmodic motion with
one foot. which was his last visible sign Of
life. The alarm was at once given. The
family rushed to the spot, on reaching
WHICH the hBonlLlAB SCOno was inuo-
scribable. The frantic mother gave vent
to her terrible woe in walls that pierced
the forest, and the stricken father
was broken in soul at the loss of bis noble
bow, crushed to death before him, be-
tween the fatal log and the ground. The
neighbors and friends at once gathered in
large numbers. With their united efforts
it was some time before the log could be
removed and the remains taken from the
position where the young life-blood had
oozed away. Tue remains were finally ex-
trscted and removed to the house that had
thus suddenly been turned into house of
mourning. The neighborhood was shocked
at the occurrence and we tender our sin
cere coincidence to the grief-stricken family,
trusting that it may be long before We will
have to record another occurrence 80 full
OF sadness and of pain.