The Irish standard., 1890-03-22
LIVES TO TELL TIE STORY.
An Ex-Miner's Fall of 900 Feet and His
Escape from Death.


Ironwood, Mich. is a great mining
centre. As it's name signifies, IRON
mining is the chief industry work
chat is carried on III most extensive
manner in and about the city. Thous-
ands of men, who see little of the light
of day, work here year after year hun
dreds and hundreds of feet below the
surface of the earth for livelihood,
not so much of necessity as many not
posted in mining life would think, but
because, as a matter OF choice. they
prefer the work. and are never more
happy than when busily engaged in
their underground vocation.
It was while visiting Ironwood short
time since that an IRISH STANDARD re-
preventative became acquainted with
raany of the people there. and soon
learned Of the remarkable escape from
death, in 1887, OF 2. G. Murphy. who is
now justice of the peace Of that city,
and a gentleman who has the respect
aud esteem of his fellowmen. As re-
lated by those who know him best. M.
Murphy entered what is known as the
Ashland mine in 1885, and after one
years service became underground fore
man He was still in the employ Of the
company when, on the 1st day of May.
1887, while going down to work in the
mine, he fell through trap-door which
had been left open by mistake This
trap door was JOG feet from the surface,
and in the perpendicular fall of $50
feet which followed, he struck the se-
cond trap door Of two inch plank at a
distance of 20 feet, breaking 1t and con-
tinuing 20 feet further, when a third
door Of the same nature and thickness
was met and broken as before. and
from thence he continued to the bot
tom Of the mine, 120 feet, making in all
distance OF 26O feet from where he
made the fatal step to the ground be-
low. He was not killed outright, but
Iives-lives in the face of the fact that
he suffered two compound fractures IN
each leg, dislocated his right collar
bone, broke ten ribs, cut in forehead of
tive and one-half inches, three-incb
cut on back of the head. lifting of scalp
and other injuries, any one of which
might have proved fatal to man of
less than an iron constitution. After
having been taken to his home he was
placed under the care of DR.. j.. I'll.
Kelly, the well-knoWn mining physician
@ Il
of that region, who gained most envi-
able reputation, in his calling in the
handling of this case alone. For the in
jured man untold suffering and pain
followed, covering in the ne1ghbOrhood
Of ten months from the date of his fail,
and in all this time he was unable to
rise from bed or /. any wise help him
self. Ia May. 1888, one year from the
time of the accident, he was able to
stand, and once more move about, and
to-day there is no nore rugged appear
ing man IN IronWood than =. q. MUIR 81
ply. weighing, as he does, in the neigh
borhoed of 2O5 pounds. Such is q little
history Of a man who certainly has had
one OF the most miraculous ESCAPES
from death on record sss:
Census Supervisor ~. j. Davenport
has established himself IN his new
quarters il the postofice building and
has appointed his first aid !. and he is
democrat, MI. James L. lonro s..
Monroe will attend 10 the clerical work
and VIII keep tifes Offices Opel1 III III tl1e.ss