Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-04-05
FATAL ACCIDENT.
Shocking Death of a Young Man.
He Falls Through q Ceiling to the
Floor, q Distance of Forty Feet

One of the most distressing accidents it
has ever been our sad duty to chronicle
took place about 4 O'Clock yesterday after
noon at the Skating Rink in this city. The
Skating Rink was advertised to have
been opened last night, and Mr.. F. A. Snow,
one OF the managers, having to make some
preliminary arrangements In the afternoon
for the opening at night, asked two or three
ofhis lady friends who wanted certain kind
of skates, to come to the rink and select
them. Going to the rink the ladies commen-
ced skating and while there several youths,
among them Robert Cartwright, son of Peter
Cartwright, Esq, came into the building.
Mr.. Snow asked young Cartwright if he
skated, and being answered in the affirma-
tive, invited him to put on a pair of skates.
His attention being called to some other
part of the house, Mr.. Snow did not see
young Cartwright, who, with another
youth, went up the steps leading to the gal
lery. After going up to the gallery, they
went into the garrett to get some young
pigeons. While stepping from one rafter to
the other, young Cartwright accidently
missed the girder, and placing his foot on
what was thought to be a firm
ceiling, but which unfortunately
was only white paper, broke through, and
was precipitated distance of forty feet to
the skating rink floor beneath. The three
ladies were in few feet of where the IN
fortunate young man struck the floor, and
made narrow escape. Mr.. Snow, who
was sitting at the farther end of the room,
near the door, seeing the young man as he
fell, immediately rushed to the place where
he lay unconscious, with the blood stream
ing from his forehead. One Of
the boys went to DIR. PluHkett's office
near by, and informing him Of
the accident; the Decor at once ran up to
the rink, where he found young Cartwright
dying. DIR. Eve and DR.. Maddin and other
physicians were summoned, but all effort
to prevent death was in vain. Young
Cartwright, after striking the floor, lived
only about six or seven minutes, and upon
examination it was found that his left
wrist and right leg were broken, and the
left parietal of the skull was badly frac-
tured, besides receiving severe in
ternal injuries that caused the
blood to flow quite freely. After falling to
the floor, he was carried to the front Of the
building near window and his temples
bathed in water by Mr.. Snow, but he was
luCOnSC1OL5 oil Tic Null6s I1l5 iaLl6T, OIo
of our most esteemed citizens, and brother
and sisters were informed of the sad cssu-
atty and we're most deeply affected. His
father and brother, when notified, went at
once to the rink, and the scene was one to
cause the stoutest heart to feel its sadness.
Coroner Everett summoned a jury Of
inquest, who after viewing the body,
place of accident and examining wit
nesses, returned a verdict of accidental
death by falling from the ceiling of the
building. The body was carried on litter
to the residence Of Peter Cartwright, Esq,
No. % North Vine street. The sad accl-
dent resulting in the death of an esteemed
young man is most deeply depiored by the
community. 10 The distressed family we,
with many others, tender our sincere SYM
pathy in this their great bereavement. A
beloved son, a generous brother and es-
teemed companion has been suddenly tom
away by a fate as horrible as its reality is
sorTowful. The deceased was about six
teen years of age and his loss will be Sc
verely felt by large number of friends and
The funeral of young Cartwright will
take place at McKendree Church at three
O'Clock Friday afternoon. Services by Rev.
ID. C.. Kelley. DID.