Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-01-14

a ErUciK with 'kxyO fScN Suddenly
Eiauppears Near Mauch CHUNK.

On Wednesday night, about haIf-past
twelve O'Clock, u remarkable and fatal acci-
dent occurred near Colerainc, on the rail
road between Beaver Meadow and rresc-
kow, in this county. A Mr. Duney and
wife had been attending wake in Beaver
Meadow, and on returning afoot along the
track Of the railr, ad, Mr.. Duiiry, being a
little in advance Of his wife, saw a depres-
sion Of The rnils short distance ahead,
and on approaching nearer the ties snlden-
ly began to give way under his Ieot. He
barely saved himself By Jumping to one
side, and Immediately after tie road. rails.
ties, embankmert and everything cayei in,
and lett a cavern Of about sixty feet deep
There bad been coal mine underneath.
and some of the piles having become worn
out or Displaced the whole surerineumbent
mass Of earth and rock had fallen in.
Dniiey and wife proceeded to their house in
Colerane, near the track, and retired TO
bed, when shortly truck was heard ap-
preaching. Duffy a: once forsaw the con
sequences and rushed ont TO give the
alarm. The truck contained two Young
men, Charles Mcconnell and Edward
Sweeney. belonging to Tresckow. who
had started down to attend the wake. Sup
posing Dufey only wished to stop them so
that he could get on himself they disre.
garded his warning, and the truck rushed
on at furious rate. until suddenly it was
precipitated into the abyss. The truck
rolght up eli a projecting bank, part Way
down, but the men were thrown the entire
distance to the bolt m, which was after
ward aScertaincd to be about sixty feet
from the surface. Sweeney had sat at the
rear Of the truck, and was therefore thrown
forward with a greater impetus, as the
truck turned in mid air. lie was evident.
ly much hart by the fall. and called to
Mcconnell to 60 and help him. The latter
replied that h had himself an arm badly
broken, aud could do nothing for him.
Soon after another mass of earth fell. COW
ering Sweeney many feet deep. and smother
ing aud hushing forever his cries for assis-
tance. Du!ley having tried in vain 10 pre-
vent the disaster, hastcned through the
town and neighborhood and rallied crowd
to assist in getting out the unfortunate vic
tins. Men hocked from TreSckow, Bea-
vor Meadow, aud Colerane. and despite the
terrible danger OF being engulied by anoth-
u CAV ihE III VI tlIt eHI'ii, went DFaNtIf HilH
iutclhgently about the work Of rescue.
Two men were let down by rope to the
bottom ct the pit, who fastened the rore
about the body OF Mr.. Mcconnell, aud the
latter was then slowly and painfully drawn
M, though not till he had been let part
way down again several times, to avoid be
ing further maagled AGAINST the projecting
rocks, When brought to the surface Nc
Connell was found no, to be seriously iniur-
ed beyond the breaking of his left arm at
the elbow, and his right leg ust above the
ankle. Gangs of men then descended at
the imminent peril OF their lives, and be-
gan the lab, rious task Of unearhing
Swr eney, whose locality was told b.
Mcconnell, After digging two hours aud
half his llfeless body was cxhumed and
taken to Tresckow. Sweeney has relatives
in Mauch Chunk, and the body was after
ward brought here for interment. He was
about twcnty-onc years of nge and was not
married. N1uch ChHak Pa gazette.