Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-12-16
THE TUNNELTON HORROR.
Full Particulars of Ashby's Sad
Fate-The Ii. ~ o. Company
Censured by the COrOner's
,Jury
Correspondents Of the Register.

Correspondence Of the Register.
TUNNELToN, W. Va, December II.
Intense excitement still prevails in
this vicinity over the recovery Of the
dead body of Joseph NJ. Ashby, who
was found in No. shaft on Tunnel Hill.
The town has been alive with people all
day, and the general topic OF converse
ton is, How did said Ashby meet his
fate? Many are the different opinions,
and considerable superstition is in
dulged in by credulous people. We will
try and give full details Of the horrible
tragedy, and think they will coincide
with the general opinion OF our best cit
izens.
On Sunday, October 10Th, Ashby was
visiting at the residence OF Bud Roice,
near the west end OF Kingwood tunnel,
and is said to have been very much
under the influence OF liquor. Shortly
after Ashby had left Roice's house,
Roice discovered that some fifty dollars
had disappeared very mysteriously. He
accused Ashby of the theft, and on the
following Tuesday had a warrant issued
for his arrest. On the same evening
Constable p. f. Garfield made the ar
rest, searched and exonorated him.
During the same evening he attended
dance in TunneltOn, after which he
started, about u o'clock, for ROice's
house, swearing revenge, his course
leading within a few feet Of said shaft,
which is l25 feet deep.
Having told several of the boys pre-
viOus to leaving the dance that he in
tended going West to visit relatives, his
absence caused but very little excite
ment for a couple Of weeks. No tdings
having been received OF him by his fam
lily or friends, steps were taken to search
the shafts, OF which there are three, eX-
sheriff Thomas, Sheriff Ford and Judge
Shaw having the arrrangemements in
hand. So on last Saturday search was
made, and ABOUT o ClOcK p. ". NcOrgc
Williams, a coal miner from Kingwood,
who made the descent, did 1t Tree oil
charge and did not receive 500, as
stated in the telegraphic dispatch to the
Wheeling Lsqdsr. When it was known
that Ashbv was in the bottom OF the
shaft, men became frantic and wlld-es-
peciallv his relatives-and rushed in on
the scatfold, and indeed it was heart
rending for while. Several of the men
who were attending the windlass, were
almost plunged headlong down into the
shaft. The sheriff and posse could DO
nothing with the crowd for a cOnsIdera-
bic length of time.
IncOnyersatiOn with Mr.. Williams, the
gentleman who made the descent, he IN
forms us that there are piles OF stone IN
the bottom OF the shaft. lie SAYS he saw
a pair Of No. 10 boots unearthed. lie
uthpr states that the horrible sights
that he saw were unprecedented. lie
declares there is no amount OF money
would induce him 10 90 down the shaft
again.
Tom Sanders, who lives several miles
from here, has been missing Tor the
past two or three weeks, and the suppo-
sition is that he is down in out OF the
shafts. as the last place he was seen
alive was at TunneltOn. We under
stand that search will be made for him.
TheeNc.tement continues To augment,
and thorough examination will be
made of all three shafts. VIII report
when search is made.
We append the verdict OF the Coroner's
jury:
inuuisition taken at TunneltOn, in
the county OF Preston, on the 18th day
December, 1879, before l.. o. Baker,
Justice i'm and for said county, upon the
view of the body of Joseph NJ. Ashby
there living dead, the Jurors sworn TO
INQUIRE when, how and by what means
the said Joseph VI. Ashby came to his
death. upon their oaths do say that the
said Joseph VI. AShbycame to his death
bv falling TO the bottom OF No. l shaft OF
Kngwood tunnel. on the B. N o. Il. r,
in the county and State aforesaid, upon
the night of the 22i dav OF October, 1873:
and the Jury DO further say that the said
n. x -. K. r. Co. Is guilty Of gross neg
lert in allowing said No. l shaft to
remain without an enclosure at the
mouth.
I'm testimony whereof the said Justice
and Jurors hercuntou set their hands:
-~ignedl Ores. j. Shatfer, Foreman,
John SNYDER, Leroy Shaw, j. l.. Man
kins. J. W. Combs. G.. W. Hartman,
". III. Castel. Thornton Conelcy,
Uezekiah Miller. Geo. Z. Durr, VIM.
Nine. Thos j. Braden.
/. c. BAKER,
Justice
The crowd has disappeared this even
ing. and all is quiet. They are expected
back in the morning. JOEL.