The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-10-16
Killed by DYnnmita.

Killed by Dynamite.
A headless, bloody corpsel
That was the horrible, never to be forgotten
spectacle upon which the granite miners at the
Llthonia quarrios gaZed yesterday.
The body without tho head was that of
Angus jerome Morrison, granite miner.
The miners head was blown from his body.
Morrison had been working in the Lithonia
quarries for about eighteen months and was
one OF the most expert granite miners. He
was always extremely careful and on account
OF his prudence was usually the last man to
leave blast and the first to return to it when
there was any danger.
Yesterday when the men working with Nor
rison knocked off for dinner they had COM
peted three deep holes, which, il was thought,
would loosen great quantity of granite when
loaded and discharged. The first thing after
dinner Morrison began loading the three holes.
Powder was put in and then the tamping. The
work was slow and dangerous, Us it always is,
but the men about Morrison felt perfectly Sc
cure. because, of their confidence in him.
Finally the loading was finished, and Morri-
son, turning to his companions, said:
you had better get now, am going to let
her go"
Tho workmen moved away, and as soon as
they were at safe distance Morrison applied
q coal OF fire to the fuse and then put himself
III motion for place of safety. Immediately
after he reached his companions there was q
low, dull report and Morrison said:
Gone"
In a second there was another report.
Two remarked Morrison.
The men remained motoneSs and quiet a
few seconds awaiting the third report. 1t did
not follow and the miner said:
whats the matter with that other blast ?"
"l)id you fire all thrce?' asked one of his
companions.
"Of course did," answered Morrison.
Tho men waited few seconds moro and
Morrison took out his watch CHANGING at 1t
he said:
II guess the wire failed. will wait a
minute and go back
watched the hands 20 round. Then when
the time was up he started back. Beside him
walked negro man, aud close behind him
came small white boy. AS the two moved
along Morrison said.
II can't understand that Two OF them
could not have gone off ut once"
"0h, no. answered his companion.
In a few seconds the miner and the negro
were upon the blasts with the small boy right
in the rear. just as they reached the blast
the negro observed the stone Immediately in
front OF him rise up, and realizing that the
load had gone off, sprang back yelling:
Look out She's !goingp The negro's warn
ing came too late for Morrison. Almost be-
fore the words had left his mouth, and while
he was yet rolling down the cliff, the dis
charge came.
cloud of smoke and dust arose q second,
binding the workers. Then itqaickly cleared
away revealing the small white boy flying
down the hill.
But the miner could not be seen anywhere
The boy ran into the gang OF workmen call
ing loudly for help.
d He was covered with blood.
Ills face was almost dyed with It, while his
clothing waa bespattered. Ho made horli-
bic, frightful picture, and was SO badly fright
ened that he could not speak.
The miners knew that something dreadful
had occurred, and hurried towards the blast.
IQtr.rr 10 a
rison lying fiat upon tho ground,
and motionless Fearing the worst they walk
ed up to the fellow-workman little prepared for
the frightful scene revealed to them.
Morrison was lying with his shoulders close
to the drilled hole, but his head was gone.
torn almost entirely away. The stone had
been shattered by the discharge and great
seams were IN the rock. The blast lad done
great execution.
1t is presumed that when the blast went off
large piece of stone was thrown upward and
struck Morrison under the chin, tearing his
head away. His death, however, must have
been instant.
Tho negro who saw tho stone bed moving
not hurt, neither was the boy who was
covered with the miners blood and BRAIN
The darby says that he could see the ground
rice very distinctly, and that he could feel
it under his feet, but that it
was SO quick and rapid that
he had no time to do anything but give the
warning cry and tumble away from the dam
ger. The miners are surprised at the re8ult of
the accident. Morrison they think should have
detected the warning az quick as the negro.
Tho body was turned over to the undertaken
at IlithOnia and prepared for burial
Morrison was young man. He was q native
OF Scotland and popular With the miners,
The Comptroller Generals Report.
The annual report of Colnptroler-General
William A. Wright is now IN tho hands Of the
printer.
Under the head Of PRODUCTION ofTax Levy"
he gays that with the largo annual increase
in the value Of property and
the completion OF the new capitol which has
required 100000 per annam for five years,
he is gratihed to state that after next year the
already low rate Of taxation for state purposes
may be greatly reduced and still all the ex-
penses OF the government be met.
The state, he says, with its returning pros
perity, should do yet more for her bravo, noble
but unfortunate manned and aged soldiers
who have suffered in poverty and silence for
twenty-three years The pittance allowed
them has been a great help, but should be
increased TO at least ono hundred dollars
annually. To show how rapidly these mon
are dying he submits this statement Of
the amounts drawn By them since the passage
Of the first act in 1873
Amount paid out by the state 1s79..........ss9s7 go
Amount paid outby the state 1888. ......... 81 sos
Amount paid out By he state, lSsG....,..... 1890