Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-09-01
Horrible Accident,

Last week Captain Cornelius Mcclellan of
this place received dispatch, stating that
George Haslet, formerly a citizen of tb;s
county, and his son Melvin Haslet, had los,
their lives suddenly by accident, in Terre
Haute, Indiana, August %, but no particu-
lars were given. The Terre Haute Erpre.,
of the 18th narrates the accident as follows !:
For about six weeks George Haslct, the
well-known carpenter and Contractor, who
has been prominent citizen here for nearly
forty years, was at work on the new stable
being built by Postmaster Filbeck on Cherry
street. Yesterday afternoon Geo. Walker.
carpenter in the employ of Mr.. HasIet.
dropped rule into the new ptivy vault
which he was completing, and Melvin Has
let, a son of the contractor, fourteen years
of age, volunteered TO go down after it.
DIR. Walker procured rope, and instead of
tying il about the boys body under the
arms, simply made moose oa the end into
which Melvin placed his right foot and was
lowered into the vault, which is thirty feet
deep and inside of shed adjoining the
stable. Mr.. Walker and Mr. Haslet. the
father, had hold of the rope, and looking
down upon the lad were surprised to see
him, when about 10 get the rule, suddenly
stagger and fall. MIR. Haslet, without the
least delay, sprang upon the rope and de-
scended to rescue the son, who even then
was dead. hr. Walker says that the father
Immediately on touching the bottom of the
vault took his son in his arms and shook
him, at the same time saying, "Mellie Mel
lie! For Gods sake, what is the matter !''
But Nellie needed not the anguish of his
fond father; his lips were closed never
again TO utter one word in this worli. To
say that this was moment of supreme anx-
iety on the part Of Mr.. Walker, who was
still standing above looking down upon the
affecting scene, is a mild expression. But
who can imagine the sensation that came
over him as gazing down the deep walled
cavern, thick and heavy with clrbOnIc acid
in gaseous state, to see Mr.. Haslet let 60
his hold on the boy and drop on his face.
A cry was raised and a crowd was soon on
hand, and after several minutes somebody
began to thing that something should be
done immediately. One man volunteered
TO go down after the unfortunates, but he
was prevented by those whose judgment
was better Ropes were procured and it
was probably twenty minutes before a hold
was secured and the boy brought to the sur
face, and FIVE or ten minutes more before
the body of Mr.. Haset was secured. Both
bodies were carried into the yard of Mr..
Fibeck and laid on the grass, where Drs.
Stevenson and DePuy were already in wait
ing, having been summoned some time be-
fore. Everything known TO the profession
was done TO resusitate the dead, but all
efforts-we without avail, and the corpses
were taken 10 the residence at 209 North
Fifth street.
DR.. Stevenson says that person cannot
live over three minutes in place impreg-
hated with carbonic acid gas, commonly
called adamps," and that in all probability
Mr.. Haslet and his son we're dead In less
time than that after getting to the bottom
of the vault.
THE INQUEST.
A verdict was rendered 10 the effect that
the deceased met their death by being SUI
focated in a vault by carbonic acid gas,
known as the damps, and no blame can be
attached to anybody.