The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-05-11
Terrible Casualty.
tFrom the Columbia Herald. ]

From the Columbia Herald.l
One OF the most shocking accidents
we have ever had TO record occurred ut
the coal mine at Browns Station, on the
Columbia branch railroad, seven miles
north of this place, on Friday morning
last. April 2lst.
The Shaft was sunk in 1872 and rs.
its dimensions are 5xI0 feet, and II de-
seeds 165 feet below the surface or about
III feet from the platform or starting
point down.
Descent into the mino is made by means
of n large, heavy wooden box, which Is
| attached to q rope, which Is In turn fix
ed to a gin-post. around which ii is coil
| cd by horse power, thus either pulling
| up or letting down the box into the mine.
| All the coal Is brought up in this way,
and the box is pulled up with full 800
| pounds Of coal Mt least $50 times every
day, and for 10 months past the same
post has served for the work, never in
] dicating any unsoundness, weakness or
| inclination to break.
On last Friday morning Mt the usual
| hour of going to work, the miners began
to descend, and some twcnty.onc were
carried down safely when four more
| Dtl SltlDtu on ic ttEcs III EtIl
the descent. Everything seemed safe
and sound and moi n tremor in the rope
OF a crack in the post gave forewarning
ofthe horrible death that lay bit a few
seconds ahead of them. Suddenly when
about SO feet down. the post snapped,
causing the rope to fly off the wheel,
thus cutting il so badly that it broke,
and with terrible crashthe wooden box.
with its human freight. fell with fearful
swiitncss to the great distance OF over
140 feet, striking the solid rock mt the
bottom, breaking the box into splintcrs
killing one of the party outright, fatally
injuring two others and irighttuliy injur-
ing, though il is not thought fatally, the
fourth. The names of the persons arc
Chas. C. Stewart, w. II. Cannon, Jos,
Mcintyre and Robt. L. Palmore-thc
three first named are coal miners and
the latter q lad about II years old and
step-son of Charles G.. Stewart.
The men who preceded the unfortu.
nate party into the mine, hearing the
crash, fastened to the spot where &
sight met their eyes which chilled the
very blood in their veins with horror.
There lay the men and boy. who bu'
a few minutes before they had lett full
of life and hope, a mangled heap o
bleeding and dying humanity. The lit
tie boy, Robert l.. Palmore, was dead
his throat being cut from ear to ca
the back of his head mashed to n Jcll,
and q portion OF his teeth knocked out
He was killed instantly, never knew
what hurt him. lie was only clever
years of age and was working with hi
step father, Chas. G. Stewart. w. ii
Cannon was found in a dying condition
and only said q few words after he fell
!, lie said IL am bound to die. Tell IN,
wife farewell'-then died. lie wa
married about n year ago to Miss Susal
+. Garrison, whom he leaves with on
little child to mourn his untimely fate.
t Joseph Mcintyre another miner, wa!
! found fcarfully mangled, He was par
, alyzcd from tho waist down. His SUI
ferings we're very great indeed. but h,
| endured them with manly fortitudc 70
!, about "a hours, when God relieved hin
l Of his sufferings. His was n lamcntabl
conditional young man in the prime o
: life, with no father, mother or relative
1 near him to console him in his terribl
: condition. But Joe had plenty OF friend
to administered his wants, and all seem
= ed to realize his condition. and were
; ready to lend n helping hand, and h
was not neglected in his dying hour.
l Charles &. Stewart was also tcrribl
injured. His lett arm broken above tn
elbow in two places. Ills right ankle
1 badly fractured, his lett ankle broker
: two cuts in the right foot by n pick an
] his left thigh is also broken. lie ais
t has some other wounds upon him an
was terribly bruised. lie is now in
= lair way to recover, and is doing II
) markably well for n person in his COZ
S dition. His recovery is hoped for. III
has a wife and eight children. He
being cared for by sympathlzing friend
c who will see that he shall not want 70
kind attention.