Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-07-28
Terrible Lime-KiIn Tragedy.

There was sad accident on the farm of
John Il. Cameron, near Pottsvlle, Pa, on
the 18th inst, by which his wife and two of
their children met their deaths. Mr.. Cam
eron has a lime-kiln OH his farm, about
quarter of a mile from the house. On the
morning of the fatal day he built fire in
the kiln, and before leaving it, lowered
son, thirteen years of age, into the pit, by
means of the bucket aud windlass, TO see
that the drafts and fuel were in proper con-
dition. All being right, tho boy was haul
ed up, and the two went TO work in hay
field. The operation of lowering and hoist
ing the lad had been Witnessed by two 9TH
err children of Mr.. Cameron-a boy about
nine years old and a girl aged five. Fifteen
minutes afterward the little boy camo run
ming into the house, pale and almost breath
| less, and startled his mother aud grand
mother with the exclamation, "Ella's in
the lime-kiln, and can't get her out ~
| The two women ran TO the kiln, followed
| by the boy, who had explained to them
that he thought it would he nice 10 ride his
| little sister up and down in the bucket. He
let her down into the kiln, when she COM
menced 10 scream, and he tried several
times TO draw her up, but couldn't start tho
| b ucket. When the women reached the
kiln, Mrs. Cameron looked down and saw
her child lying at the bottom, having be-
come overpowered by tho gas arising from
the limestone, that had now commenced 10
burn. The heat was also becoming intense
in the pit. Mrs. Cameron, believing that
her little boy could put the unconscious
| child in the bucket aud get back into it
himself before suiferieng any serious con-
sequences from the gas, placed the boy in
the bucket, and impressing him with the
necessity of haste when he reached the bot
tom, lowered him down. The little fellow
jumped from the bucket, and succeeded in
getting his sisters body into it. He then
grasped tho rope himself and his mother
aud grandmother began to turn the wind
lass as rapidly as possible. The bucket
was raised but two or three feet when the
brave boy fell back to the bottOm, over
come by the gas. The bucket was drawn
to the top, and the body of the little girl
quickly removed and placed on the ground
Mrs. Cameron then told her mother-in-law
a lady nearly seventy years of age, that she
must lower her into the kiln, as she must
60 down 10 rescue her son. The Old lady
seized tho crank and Mrs. Cameron got in
the bucket. The weight was more than old
Mrs. Cameron could control, and the crank
slipped from her hands, aud whirling
round struck her on the head, stretching
her, bleeding and sensoess, on the ground
The mother of the children was precpi-
foIo xriIl 10 tn, ba
doubt rendered unconscious before the poi
sonous gases had their deadly effect upon
her. About this time the Pottsvile stage
John Kane, driver, came along by Gamer
on's farm. Kane discovered tho body o.
old Mrs. Cameron lying bleeding 10y Tho
kiln, and that of the child lying near her
He stopped the stage and jumped out &c
SEQ what was the matter, followed by gen
tleman passenger. Tho bodies of MIS-
Cameron and the other child were dscov.
cred at the bottom of the kiln. Kane told
tho passenger TO turn the windlass as soor
as he gave him the word, and then rapidly
descended into tho pit, hand over hand
uown the rope. He placed the body o
Mrs. Cameron in the bucket, and she was
pulled quickly up and placed on the ground
The bucket was then lowered, and Kane
succeeded in getting into it with the boy,
body. Kane was unconscious when he
reached tho top, and it was long lime be-
fore he was able TO sit up. By bathing old
Mrs. Cameron with water Kancs compan
ions soon restored her 10 consciousness
but her daughter-in-law and two grand
children were dead. AS soon as Kane was
able TO walk tho three corpses and old AIRS
Cameron were put in the stage and taker
TO the house, and Mr.. Cameron was sum
moned from the field, who're he was work
ing all unconscious Of the terrible tragedy
Mrs. Cameron was about thirty-five years
old. This kiln is singularly fatal one
No longer ago than last Fall two men work
ing for Mr.. Cameron were sufocated in i
under circumstances similar TO the above
and three persons besides have met thei
! death in it at different times during th,
past seven years.