The Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1865-1870, 1870-08-27

TERRIBLE AND FATAL ACCIDENT IN
THE HALE 4 NoRCRoss MINE.-Y es-
terday's Enterprise relates the follow
ing particulars of fatal accident at
the Hale and Norcross mine:
Last evening about SH O'Clock.
Thomas Stanton and David Ryan were
instantly killed in the main shaft of
the Hale 4 Norcross mine, by the cage
falling to the bottom of the shaft.
John Cochran was considerably bruis-
ed about the hips and back, but not
dangerously injured, while Matt Sui
liyan: the only man besides who was
in the shaft, escaped unhurt. The ac-
cident was caused by the breaking of
the large iron bolt which connects the
lever OF the brake with the brake
strap-the large iron strap passing
round the friction wheel and by means
of the pressure of which upon the
wheel the cage is regulated or stopped.
The cage was being hOisted to the top
of the shaft, which is 200 feet deep,
with an empty car upon it, and the
bolt gave way when the cage was near
the top, allowing the cage TO descend.
The weight of the cage and car, with
the cable already out, caused the reel
to revolve with frightful rapidity, and
the cable played out as fast as though
it had been lying in a loose coil upon
the ground. Streams of fire from the
friction wheel and brake-strapfi flew up
ward to the ceiling and the engine
room was lighted up as though by fire.
works. 1t being impossible for the
engineers to do anything to stop the
falling car, they left their platform,
expecting every moment to see the
swiftly revolving wheels fly in pieces.
The cage and car fell to the bottom of
the shaft with such force as to break
two platforms of by II inch
timbers. The lowest of these plat
forms was Il feet above the men in the
shaft, and the other 30 feet higher, yet
the cage went through both like a cam
non shot. The bolt which broke was
two inches thick, and the break shows
clean bright iron from side to side
without the least sign of a flaw. The
cable fell into the shaft and cOiled up
on the wreck of the cage, car and
making it a matter Of some
difficulty to get at the bodies OF the
killed. At the time of our visit to the
works last night-near midnight-the
bodies had been taken out OF the bot
tom Of the shaft, but had not yet been
hOisted to the surface, though rough
boxes had just been sent down for
them AS we left. Both of the men
killed were natives of Ireland and both
were married men. Thomas Stanton
leaves a wife and two children in this
city, and David Ryan leaves wife i'll
Gold Hill, but no children. Stanton
was a member of the Miners Union
Of this city, and Ryan a member 6, The
Gold Hill Miners Union. BOtt we're
young men-Ryan being about % or
30, and Stanton about "a years. The
wounded man, Mr.. Cochran, was ex-
amined by DIR. Webber in the works,
and afterwards carried away to his
lodgings. We did not hear the Doc
tors opinion, but were informed by
some OF the men that he was but slight
Ly injured. Sullivan's escape unin-
iured was almost miraculous. He says
he falling cage made no noise-it came
upon them like q cannon ball. Even
he men who we're at the stations above
lid not hear it pass, though some saw
dart down like q flash Of !
light. 1t is very sad affair, indeed,
md is but another proof Of the fact
hat our miners are constantly expos
ID to instant death by accidents against
which no human foresight can guard. /