The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-08-17
FHameHUkVA WEEKLY COURIER
City and County News.

fH4nel 4uMVA WEEKLY COURIER
City and County News. zsa
From she Daily Cosrier Of Aususs u.
Il ETE1 EnRsoNs KILLED.
The Briggs Disaster.
Our reporter visited the scene OF
this terrible disaster yesterday, and
obtained the following facts:
The Briggs' place is situated two
miles east and one-half mile north
from Eddyville, just over the line, in
Mahaska county, whore they have
resided for the laet eighteen or TWEEN
~ years. The house occupied BY W.
G. Briggs is upon quite high ground
slopins OFF to the south to the ravine
or creek just on the opposite bank Of
whish, and distant from the house
aSout four hundred (400) yards, is
the coal shaft. The shaft is about
thirty feet deep, and had not been
used for some time. There was erec-
ted over the shaft frame work and
small shop adjoining for the accom-
mediation ofthe hands when employ
cd in mining, also the capstan OF
windlass tor drawing up the coal By
horse power. It appears that w. G.
Briggs had been away from homo for
. day or two, and on coming home
fosnd that water, whore the stock
had been accustomed to drink had
failed, and he told his son, Mahlon,
aged 20, and William, aged Q or 10,
TO 60 over and draw water from the
coal shaft for the stock, which they
proceeded to do, but upon letting the
barrel down INTO tue pit it did not
sink, aud Mahlon sent his younger
brother down to fill the barrel in
the meantime, . neighbor boy about
- or IA years Of age had come along
and stopped to see the boys and was
looking down the shaft, and seeing
that Willie did not proceed to gil the
barlel, he called TO him. but re-
oeived no reply. MahIon then Look
ed down and remarked that there
was damps down there, and immedi-
ately caught hold of the rope and
slipped down into the shaft, and
picked Willie up, and put him in the
tarrel, and called to the boy at
the top 70 haul up. which be did,
looking dow n the shaft st the same
time, Mahlon as soon AZ the barrel
containing his brother had started,
also started TO climb up the ladder,
and the neighbcr boy thinks he got
half way up, when he let 60 and fell
back. As soon az the barrel con-
tanning Willie reached the top, the
neighbor boy lifted him out, and laid
him on the platform, and ran ont and |
called to W. g. Briggs, who was up !
at the hoese, and he ran down and
psiled OF bis coat to go down, and
the boy told him not to go, but he
told him to watch, and il he sAw him
sailing, to draw him up, and got into
the barrel, Il would ssy here that
tAs barrel used was : common coal
oil barrel with an iron bail attached,
and was drawn mp by means of
pony hitched to sweep and start
Cd down, the boy watching him
closely, and when he got to the bot
tom be reached out and caught hold
ofNaAlon, and tried to get him in.o
the barrel, butt. seemed ho could
not lift him, while standing in the
barrel, and he stepped one foot out
and tried again to lift him, and did
partially succeed IN getting him up,
tho boy st the top then called to
him to come out, he told the boy to
hoist away, which he did, w. G.
BHggs stiil holding to Mahlon, and
llted him some distance from the
bottom, when they both fell out, and
went to the bottom together. The
boy seeing this Immediately unhitch-
Cd the horse from the sweep and !
started for George Briggs, brother Of
W.T., who was helping to thresh.
about onc-half mile from tho shaft
The girl, Anna Briggs, seeing her
father running down To- the shaft,
followed him, and when che got |
there, the boy had gone for George,
and seeing hcr father and brother
lying .. the bottom OF the shaft, it ia |
supposed she climbed down the lad
der TO try to help them, as she was
lying with Their. when assist
anoe arrived. When the boy got TO
where the men were threshlng, be
told George what was the matter, |
and he jumped Oh the horse the boy
rode over and rode with all speed to
the shaft, arriving 10 advance of the
balance OF the men. jumped off his
horse, and went right down tho
shaft. The others coming up in q
few moments saw him at the bottom
apparently lifeless. The next and |
last victim was an Irishman, named |
Green, who had been in this country |
about five years and " no had work.
Cd for the Briggs four years, and was
very mucL attached TO them, and
when he saw them all in the shaft
helpless, he became almost frantic,
and in spite Of the rcmonstrancss of
the Others, no rushed down only TO
perish W th them, thus making the
FIFTH victim in this terrible catastro
pho.
W q. Briggs was man between
~ and 49, years of age, about s feet
SuNx.