Frostburg mining journal., 1881-12-24

l
hours OF l and 2 tbs body of Thomas
Hodgert. q young miner in the en-
ploymsnt of the New Central coal
company, was found lying in the
ditch along the @. & P. railroad, in
the cut below the tunnel. The exact
spot where hs was found is about
fifty yards above the bridge on Bow
cry street and is exceedingly unsafe
for persons to approach on a dark
night. The surro undings are psou-
lisrly dangerous at all times and is a
wild and gloomy place. Last Sunday
morning, standing upon the spot
where the deceased was supposed to
have fallen We were greatly i'm
pressed with the scenery about us.
Looking north-eaat was the opening Of
the tunnel, On each side of which
shimnoring in the sun were huge cas-
cades Of water frozen hard, reminding
one forcibly of the large stalactitea
hsoging pendant froa The roof of the
Lursy savsrns, standing out boldly in
relief with the Cersbus darkness OF
tho tunnel; below or the track
were friends and acquaiatsncss Of
the dad man examining dark pool
of blood and oogitsting on the seeming
mystery.
The body was first discovered by a
tramp named Frank Loomis who had
gotten up from his dusty coach in the
brick-ysrd and went up the rail-
road tn get drink of water. Upon
his return to the brick-yard he re-
ported finding drunken nam lying
in the ditch to Mr.. William Cruise,
who happened to stop in the yard on
his way home. Mr.. Cruise inmsdi-
ately went out and found that the
man was killed. Es then notified
officer Sullivan who in turn woke up
DR.. J. J. Jones. The physician upon
examination found that the man was
dead and ordered his removal to For
estsrs Hall.
Justice o. J. Meat impansllsd the
the following jury of inquest at IL
o'clock Sunday morning:
John B. McCulloh, foreman J. n. Ben
son, VIM. Wenk, sr., William Thomas,
William r. Coyner, Adam Krauss, d. E.
Shaffer, John Davis, John Jenfrles, Frisby
Humbsrston, Simon s. Hooking, Edward
Duffy.
The jury called in DR.. Jones who
made post-mortem examination and
stated that the deceased came to his
death by being struck on the oociritsl
protubsranos by blunt instrument
producing conclusion of the brain
which caused his death. The wound
was II inches across by 2 inches
length. wise of the back Of the head
The ns.k was not broken nor were
there any bruises about him such as
would cause tho physician to think
that he could have fallen frsm the
bank.
Shortly after IL o'clock Mr.. Walter
Edwards teok the body to his late
residence At Bowsry Furnace, accom-
panied BY our reporter. Inquiries
were made of the deceased wife as to
the amount Of money Thomas had
about him when hs left home early
Saturday evening, and she replied
$lO and few cents. While his
friends were washing him our repre-
sentative discovered a bright red
brulse II inches long by l wide on
the right leg, about FIVE inchss above
the ankle bone, which looked as if it
was made by a kick from square
toed boot. The scene at the house
was heartrsnding-ths bride of but
elk weeks was sitting on a lounge
supported sy her brother and lady,
moaning out her grief and at times
uttering piercing Shrieks OF anguish
over her dead husband. Arouud the
corpse were gathered the fellow-work.
men, all miners. of the young man,
each busy and all willing to do some
tling towards laying out their dead
comrale.
The jury convened at Q O'Clock in
the Council Chamber and the follow
ing testimony was addscsd:
DR.. j. j. Jones-Did not find any part
ofthe skull broken he was struck where
the skull is thick, producing conclusion
of the brain. The amount of blood WAS
caused by the rupture of the cavulsr veins
Frank Loomis-Was sleeping In the dry
ing room at the brick-yard with two other
men; man came In late and woke us up ;
vert up the railroad TO the spring to get a
drink, saw u man lying en- the track.
Went back and told the man (who came in
/