Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-04-12
A Frightful Fall down Coal
Shaft and Fatal ResuIt.-Our

ny hum l'ciN''ii O''NN
of the frightful death at that place OF
young man named WILLIAM LANGLEY, OF
Frostburg, employed as driver in the Shaft
He was placed in charge of a horse recently
purchased for Use in the Shaft, and which
was placed in the cage to be lowered to
the mine. The descent commenced, the
horse began rearing and plunging to such
an extent that Mr.. WILLIAM G. MCMILLAN,
boss miner, called to the engineer, MIR. JOHN
BARNARD, to stop. The horse continued
with increased violence his efforts to sur
mount the cage, until he got his front feet
fast upon the top of one of the sides, thus
standing upright upon his hind feet. Fear
ing increased difficulty, Mr. MCMILLAN or
dered the engineer to elevate the cage
The fury of the horse induced Mr.. McM. to
stop the cage again with the hope his Vlo-
lence would abate with the cage at rest
The cage was now within few feet of the
platform, the horse meanwhile struggling
with all his power, when hook snapped
and cage horse, and LANGLEY, shrieking,
went in an instant to the bottom of the
Shaft and, breaking the mine railway trestlc-
work descended to the sump, ten or fifteen
feet lower. When the cage struck the tres
tie, however, the temporary rebound threw
LANGLEY off the cage to one side, his feet
striking the breast of a man near by. The
cage was wrecked, the horse killed. Five
81 hoe ho1p announced la
LEY as dead. But after being hoisted and
carried to room near by he was observed
to breathe, so that he lived about fifteen
minutes after the fall.
LANGLEY was young man of twenty
eight years, and leaves wife and one child.
His terrible death is deeply deplored the
sensation produced is general and profound.
His cries of 'saye met catch me y when
falling, were heart-rending, and will never
be forgotten by those who heard them
His remains were followed to Allegany
Cemetery on Tuesday by large number OF
connexions and friends.
He was sitting upon the frame work
above the cage, else he would have been
totally crushed The back of his head was
severely confused, his body badly bruised,
and both legs broken in several places
No blame attaches to the management of
the Shaft for this sad accident. The hook,
the breaking of which caused the dreadful
fall, was full two inches through, the bro
ken place being bright as silver and exhibit
ing no semblance OF flaw.
1t has always been customary to lower
the horses and mules down the Shaft to the
mine, the effect of which has been 10 tame
wildness and suhduc restivencss. This
horse, before stated as recently purchased,
had, however, been lew days before low
cred without trouble his conduct on this
occasion is regarded as unusual,
The machinery is thoroughly examined
every evening to prevent accidents. The
fact that this is the first mishap of this kind
where life has been lost, shows the great
care taken TO guard against them.
Since writing the above we have rcceiv-
ed the following from our Borden Shaft
correspondent, NJ. G. r, under date ofthe
10th inst Some variation from the ac-
count as above given induces Us to add this
to our item:
MIR EDITOR On Monday morning
about o clock the people ofthiS placcWerc
| appalled, by an accident involving The death
OF horse and his diver WILLIAM Lang
| LEY. The circumstances of the accident
are as follows: LANGLEY was regarded As
the best driver in the Shaft and received, in
consequence strange horse for under
ground training. On the morning stated
he with some difficulty, placed the animal
in the crib, which was on the cage for that
purpose; everything appearing all right,
he signalcd the engineer to lower him. He
had not gone more than twelve feet when
the horse began to kick and plunge at II
fearful rate Mr. MCMILLAN. the chief
miner, secin" the condition of affairs prec
rio,ls, ordered the engineer to hoist the eX-
cited animal. In the meantime LANGLEY
was struggling desperately to prevent the
horse from jumping out of the crib and
down the shaft. When the cage was with
in four feet of the landing it was again found
necessary to stop lest the animal get out of
the crib. The horse then made a trcmend-
ed to get his front fee: on the landing,
LANGLEY struggling hard to prevent him.
! MORGAN THOMAS, the hostler, was about to
offer his assistance when, from the repeat
ed and heavy jars, the hook which secures
| the cage to the bands broke, the crowd of
miners and drivers who were looking on
turned pale as WILLIAM LANGLEY and the
horse went to the bottom Of the shaft, a
depth Of $50 feet. LANGLEY nerer spohe
after tie hook br0he. Two men who We're
! on the bottom say the unfortunate man
groaned as they picked him mp immediate
ly after the fall He drew his breath twice
af,er he reached the top; tbs has been at
tibruted to some reaction of the air, rather
than as sign of life. He was native of
Georgetown, ID. G.. a kind and generous
hearted fellow, and about twenty-eight
years of age. He was married about three
years leaves wife and child to mourn
his loss. NJ. G. X.
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