Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-10-13
SUEFOCATED.
Alone and With None But the
All-sceing Eye of God Upon
Him VIM. Fairlie meet an I'm
timely Death by Suffocation in
his Elevator,
And One of the Bravest, Truest
and Noblest of Nature'sNoble-
men Joins the Great Majority.

ulCll JOINS Cue GIedC MAJORITY.
Last Thursday night the citizens Of
Langdon were thrown into Of state of
excitement by the report that William
Fairlie: agent for the National Eleva-
tor company at this point, was missing
and fears were entertained that he had
been foully dealt with, as it was known
that he had Il large sum of money OH
his person. Subsequent events, how
ever proved these fears grOundless and
his friends can rest assured that it was
not because of the cupidity or malice
Of fellowmen that the son and brother
gave up his life. The facts of this sad
event are as follows:
On Thursday evening at about $50
o'clock, Mr.. Fairlie returned to the ell
evator. with his assistant. to load q
car of barley. They had about 200
bushels in the car when the spout lead
ing from the shipping bin became
clogged and the unfortunate man, TAX
ing Il lantern, went into the bin to re-
move the obstruction. This was the
last that was seen Of him alive. MI.
keenan, and Mr.. Farlie were rOOming
together and had their bed in the ele-
vator Office. About 10 O'Clock Mr.
keenan, went down to the elevator to
90 to bed, but found the door locked.
lie inquired the whereabouts OF Fairlie
of the assistant and received the reply
that he had gone into the shipping bin
all hour before and he (the asslstant)
! had not seen him since. MI, Keenan,
then came up town and not finding
Mr.. Eairie about his usual hallntS, at
once jumped TO the conclusion that
something was wrong and meeting Mr..
Mathisen and Sheriff Pinkertun re-
uuested them to accompany him back
to the elevator and see if they could
find the missing man. The immed-
lately climbed to the top Of the eleva-
tor and descended into the shipping
bin. There they found the lantern he
had used. sitting on a piece OF timber
where he had placed it, and still burn
ing. Now, becoming thoroughly
alarmed for the safety Of the young
man, a messenger was dispatched to
arouse the town and soon nearly every
citizen was upon the ground. They
divided into two parties and while one
was shoveling aside the barley in the
bin the other was searching every COLI
ceivable nook and Granny about the
house and grounds where a dead body
might be placed. The search at length
narrowed down to the shipping bin
and they had about given up the hope
of finding him there when one Of the
party conceived the idea of breaking
open the spout and letting the grain
out on the ground. This was done
and d man thrusting his hand up the
spout came in contact with leg of
the unfortunate man. The grain was
drawn off and all that was mortal
of VIM. Fairlie was found cold and
still in death.
The exact cause of his death will al
ways be a matter of conjecture. The
safety of the lantern and the absence
of marks of violence on his person,
proves that he arrived safely in the
bin. From that point we can only
theoriZe. Some think that in remov-
ing the obstruction, which was 2xG
scantling, he over eXerted himself and
brought on an attack of heart failure
and that he was dead, OF at least III
capable of making any exertion to save
himself. before the suction at the
spout had drawn him under the grain.
Others, and by far the greater humber
are inclined to the belief that he sue
ceeded in pulling the scantling out of
/ the spout and the rush Of grain had
carried him off his feet, and all the eX-
ertions he could put forth would not
avail him in this extremity. 1t must
be understood that there was but 800
or 700 bushels of barley in the bin
when he went into it. The bottom of
the bin is unprecedented and built of
smoothly planned boards, atfording
neither hand or foot-hold. The grain
in the bin would hardly come up to
the cribbing, so that the entire bulk
was a moving man-trap.
There were no marks upon the body
when recovered, except the marks, of
the grain upon the exposed flesh. His
money, amounting to some $3.50 was
found upon his person and was taken
in charge by Sheriff Pinkerton and
turned over to the coroner.
| The remains were given in charge of
Company f., n. D. n. G.. OF which
organization deceased was member,
and taken to the armory and prepared
for burial. His parents in Scotland
were cabled and relatives at Park
River notified by telegraph. Upon re-
ceipt of instructions from Park River
| the remains were taken to that place