The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1882-07-12

SAD ACCIDENTS. AT Charlotte, Oh
Friday evening, there was mucn excite
ment when Il young lady, who had just
cantered down Trade st. in company
with young Laban Williams, IS year old
son Of Henry B. Williams, Esq, gallon
ing back TO seek aid for her escort, who
lay, ~liieless, in the highway, one mile out
She had previously called a negro. who
reached the Laban just as he Was expir
ing.
1t appears, Mr.. Williams horse be-
came unmanageable as they we've gallop-
ing down the long descent from the All
Line Depot towards Mr.. Jas. p. Irwin's
place. At bottom there is a bridge, and
a ford. The Infatuated animal started to
cross the bridge, but suddenly swerved
and dashed down the steep bank throw
ing his rider headlong in the hard road.
The Charlotte Observer speaks very
highly of him and the attendance at the
funeral was large.
A little son of Rufus Y. McAden had
a narrow escape in Raleigh last week. He
is with his aunt, Mrs. Geo. w. Sweep
son. While riding, he was thrown head
long; and lay unconscious for several
days, but is now out of danger.
On the outside page will be seen the
story of the Ohio River disaster. The
loss Of life is already known to be above
70, ard there are 80 persons persons miss
ing. What a tragic sunset for the Clio
rious Fourth Capt. Thomas, of the
lost boat, has gone crazy.
The affair has a greater interest for us. be
cause our first Fourth O. July, of which
We have any recollection, was at that very
point, in 1855 or SO. "Moundsville' is
the name of the village which has grown
up at the mammoth Indian mound, local
ly known as 'Grae-Creek Mound" TIE
huge bank of earth is big enough to con-
ceal our State Capitol; and must have
been built long before the white mans
appearance in the country, as there were
full grown oaks on its summit when first
discovered. The mound is hollow, and
has a circular well or shaft well bricked-
up, from the main chamber to the pin
acle; meant to act as a chimney for the
funeral fires within. The bricks REFER
ed to are not our baked affairs; but long
slabs, "sun~dried," like the Mexican
adobe houses.
The Big Mound at Grave-Creek has
been a %favorite picnicking ground for
generations. The grassy banks of the
river slope gently back towards the fool
of the Mound and the dense groves ar,
kept well cleaned of thrush, supplied with
stands, swings. see saws, etc.
On the Fourth of July in question,
there was an immense gathering from
Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The
grassy slopes of the mound swarmed with
the multitude. and its entrances were al
most blocked with piles of watermelons.
apple-stands, etc. Rev. DR.. Shotwell de
llvered the address; and, we think tina,
the venerable Alexander Campbell, foun
der OF the faith in which many of our
readers ERE fixed, was also present. He
was then President of Bethany College, !
not far distant.
When twilight deepened, and cool
oreezes blew, and the camp-fres were
lighted on the bluffs, and the sound of
sweet music came over the ripping sur
face OF the river, as the huge excursion
Palaces" they
We're called passed up and down, ringing
their bells at intervals, the scene was
hxed upon our childish imagination with
all the glowing tints of Wonderland
Very different, surely, from the scene.
on the same spot, last week, when NOR.
900 men, women and children, were sud
denly launched into a fearful struggle for
life.