Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-11-18
FATAL MISSTEP.
4 Miner slips from an ley Trail and
Falls $50 Feet
Leadyille Democrat.

Last w ednesday there occurred on
Slate mountain, near Ashcroft, one of
those bloody and CHASTITY accidents that
crimson the annals of the mining belt
and make men realize how terrible are
the perils that environ the pathways of
the fortune-hunter in these great noun
tains. Mr.. B. Sutphen, gentleman
interested in mines at Ashcroft, came
in last last night from that camp and
gave the reporter the details of the af-
fair. A young man name ]. NJ. Zern,
who has been prospecting and contract
ing around Ashcroft for some time
past, had, in connection with another
man, contract to run tunnel on a
claim very near the summit of Slate
mountain. The claim is known AS the
Shamokin ledge. They had nearly
completed the contract, and Fern was
making his preparations to get out of
the country for the winter. The trail
leading from the cabin occupied by the
two contractors to the claim winds its
sinuous and perllous way along the
steep slope ofSlate mountain, frequent
ly zigzagging to avoid the lodges and
ease the grade. But there is one piece
far up toward the summit where the
slope is almost perpendicular for quite
distance, and under the best condition
travel at that spot is perilous. The
trail, about Is inches wide, is cut out
of the mountain side, and it would
make tenderfoot's hair stand on end
to look down. The chances are that
he would ''coon it, along that particu-
lar spot. There has been a crust of
snow several inches thick on and near
the summit of Slate mountain for a
week or more past, and the cold nights
have frozen this snow whene it has been
pressed down along the trail until it is
as slippery as glass. The passage along
the trail at the steep part mentioned
above is fearful one these days, and q
misstep along the treachous pathway
on frozen snow will send man down
to bloody and inevitable death. Last
Wednesday morning Zern and his part
ner were proceeding along the trail to
the Samokin lode, and at the danger
Gus and precipitous spot referred to
Zern missed his footing. The misstep
carried his body off the trail, and in an
instant the doomed miner was whirling
dOWA VIC SilOHs o1OpC1 WiiNIg SiboEtiiI
at the air and attempting in vain to Sc
cure some foothold on the frozen
ground His horror. stricken partner,
utterly unable to render him any as
sistance, stood gazing at the terrible
sight with emotions past description.
Down, down the poor fellow went, and
when his bruised and bloody frame
reached the bottom it was 1880 feet
from where it started, and bore but lit
tie semblance to its original self. Zern's
partner fastened down the trail for
help, and when that had been secured
the party were compelled to follow a
long and toilsome course to reach the
body. 1t was ghastly-looking corpse
they found, crushed and beaten out OF
human shape, aud strong men shud-
dered as they looked upon it. 1t was
carried to Ashcroft and there buried
Fern was very popular in the camp
a bright, earnest young miner, and his
terrible death is greatly mourned. II
is not known what part Of the east he is
! from