Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1884-12-16
TAYLOR
"A Chapter of Accidents-A Suicide
and the Natural Death of - Prom.
fuent Citizen.

and h Natural Death of u Prom.
fnent Citizen.
TAYLOR, New, Dec. IL, 1884.
Ed. SENTINEL: On Monday night OF this
week, John Wheatley. one Of our most
prominent and respected citizens, met with
an accident, which, for the marvelousness
Of his escape from a horrible death, is IN
paralleled in the history OF mining. Mr..
Wheatley was in the employ Of the Argus
Mining Company, and was working ON the
night shift in the Sun Rise mine. The
shaft in which he was working is about 40
feet deep. Four feet from the bottom Of
this shaft, q drift had just been started.
Mr.. Wheatley and Pat Bonner were work
ing in this drift which had not been ex-
tended over two feet from the side of the
shaft. The two men had put In three deep
holes. and had loaded them preparatory to
blasting them. All things being ready, Mr..
Bonner wen to the top to draw Wheatley
up by the windlass when the blasts should
be fred. Wheatley fred the fuse and sung
out to Bonner to hoist. This Bonner did,
Wheatley having his foot in the loop Of the
rope, but when in about eight feet of the top
Wheatley's foot slipped from the loop, and
he lost his hand-hold from the rope, and
fell back to the bottom Of the shaft, fall
ing over 80 feet, and lighting on solid hard
rock. Immediately after he fell to the bot
tom, the three blasts only four feet above
him exploded, completely covering him
with rock and debris. Mr.. Bonner of
course thought he was killed outright, and
sn ,n n akn1r Aoll4I f. -
other men working near by. Upon de-
scending the shaft Mr.. Wheatley was found
completely buried and unconscious. He
was raised to the top and gently carried
to his home. where he shortly after recov-
cred. Strange to say, upon examination,
it was found that NO bones were broken, |
and that he was only suffering from the
shock and several external bruises. He
is now doing well under the care Of DR..
Tufford, and hopes to be all right again
within a few days.
Yesterday Mr.. John Verzan, q pioneer Of
Taylor, and proprietor of the town site.
went into the Monitor mine in company
with j. W. Hixson to examine a rich strike
of chloride ore which had just been made.
Mr.. Verzan was passing over g broad plank
which spanned a pit that had been worked
out. This pit is some eight feet deep and
about six feet wide. In stepping upon the
plank Mr.. Verzan missed his footing and
fell to the bottom Of the pit, sustaining q
severe sprain Of the right ankle and break |
ing the middle finger OF the right hand be-
tween the knuckle and middle joint. In
the absence Of Drs. Tufford and Campbell,
Mr.. Cupid, our worthy druggist, set the
broken limb and the patient is now dom,
well. |
Last evening at about IL O'Clock our |
town was strstled by the announcement
that James Opie, of the firm Of Liddle d
Opie, carrying on the butchering business
in this place and Ward, and a pioneer of
White Pine county, had committed suicide. !
All day yesterday the butcher shop here
which Mr.. Opie attends was closed. Gus
TONERS going for their meat could obtain |
no admission to the premises. all the doors
being locked. At about IL O'Clock last even
ing suspicion Of something being wrong
was aroused, when Mr.. Bassett, Sheriff
elect and Mr.. McKercher, went down to
the front door Of the shop and broke it in.
Upon entering the back room Of the shop, |
where Mr.. Opie usually slept, they found
him lying in bed upon his back, as though
he had undressed and retired for the night. |
His right hand was crossed over his breast, |
and by his side lay pistol. His mouth
was wide open. and all powder burned.
and he was cold and stiff in death. He
had evidently shot himself in the mouth,
the ball passing out through the back of
the head. The deed must have been COM
mitted some "a hours before it was known.
The body still lies undisturbed awaiting
the action of Judge Fitton, who is now
here to hold IN inquest, Mr.. Opie was q
well respected citizen and in good circum-
stances, and no cause is known for the
deed.
News has just reached US of the death of
George H.. Parker, of Parker's station on
the Phoebe road. Mr.. Parker was an old
and highly esteemed citizen of this part of
the country and his death will be deeply |
deplored by many friends.