The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-01-06
SNIOTHERED.
SEVEN MEN BURIED UNDER PILE OF GA
A HORRIBLE DEATH.

SEVEN MEN BURIED UNDER A PILE OF GRAIN
A HORRIBLE DEATH.
The Ottawa, Canada, Citizen tells OF the
terrible death that befell seven laborers
there: Mr.. Murray, a lumber dealer. had
hired seven men to go to his mills on Blue
River, a tributary of Lake Huron, and work
his timber lands. He heard nothing Z; oal
them, and the report of a traveller, who had
lust came from the river, increased Mr.. Muir
rays fears, and he determined at once to
proceed up the stream and ascertain what
had become of the boats crew. He found
the batteau as described at the landing. and
then proceeded to the shanty, or depot,
where the provisions were TO have been
stored. He arrived there at nightfall, but
no sound greeted him. All was still as the
grave. He lifted the latch Of the door. and
as he entered a horrible stencil of putrid
flesh greeted his nostrils. He struck light
and at once proceeded TO investigate the
premises The storehouse was a square
block house, scooped shanty fashion, but
without the hunks that are generally found
in regular lumber shanty. The remains
of the fire were visible in the camp
boose, and the only thing unusual in the
appearance of the place was the horrible
stencil and the oats which he had sent up
with the men, thrown in disordered heap.
some of it loose and the rest in bags, on one
side of the floor. From this heap the foul
side and commenced to renie We the oats. The
odOr grew almost unbearable, and he bad
only lifted two or three bags of grain when a
human hand met his gaze, and sent his blood
curdling through his veins. HOrror-seiCken,
he continued to remove the grain,
and discovered one of the most ter
rible sights that it has ever been
the lot of man TO witness. The seven men
had arrived at the depot safely with their
lead, and it is supposed they worked with
will until they got their charge safely stored.
The pork was packed in one corner, the AOI:.
In another, and the oats, in bags, was piled
| from the floor 10 the scoops in high, mar
row pile. The men then, tired and hungry
partook of hearty supper, after which they
spread their blankets on the floor and then,
with their heads on the pile of oats, and their
feet to the fire, they fell into a heavy sleep-a
sleep from which they never rose. During
| the night one of the bottom bags OF oats
burst from the pressure above, The grain
began to run out, until one s. de of the pile
was undermined, and when the tired work
ers were enjoying their soundest and most
refreshing sleep, the pile of srain fell over on
| top of them. God alone knows how soon
death overlook them. Six of the men did
not appear to have been able to move. They
were found lying on their backs in q row,
with their heads covered. The weight of
the grain must have been so crushing
that they could not move hand or foot.
and they died of suffocation. The seventh
man must have had a fearful struggle for
life. Lying near the end of the pile, he was
not caught with such weight as his COM
rades He must have lived for some time
after being trapped, and being a man of
1 powerful frame he died hard, IS was evil
denced by the fact that he had worked his
| way upward until his hand was near the sur
face, but his own struggles only fastened
his death. The bags became torn and
the grain, fltering down, filed his mouth,
eyes and nostrils, and effectually choked
/ him. These were in effect the facts in the
case as related to Mr.. Rowan, and more
CHASTITY and horrible incident we have never
| heard of Four of the men were from the
| township of Ashfield, in Huron; the Others
were Frenchmen. They had only gope To
work in the woods for the winter. Mr.. Will
liams, who was i'm Goderich when he heard
of the accident, immediately left for the
| mill