Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-10
A Clothed Skeleton Found
Hanging in a Braddock
Township Coal Mine.
ITS DISCOvERER FAINTS.
The Hair and Beard of the Dead Man
Are Still Growing.
1T is SUPPOSED TO BE A SUICIDE.
The Deed Was Probably Committed Over
Two Years Ago.
A MYSTERY THAT is YET UNsOLvED

Half sitting, half hanging was the
dressed and booted skeleton of a man
found in a coal mine in Braddock town.
ship. Tuesday evening John Nevin dis
covered this weird, CHASTITY spectacle. As
his little lamp revealed to him the hideous
sight, Neyin fell in faint
This is the most complete mystery un-
earthed in Allegheny county for many days.
The district where this case comes from is
well suited as birthplace of mystery. The
skeleton was found in Corry's deserted coal
mine. The old pit is on hill above Cope
land station and half mile back from the
railroad. 1t has been over IL years since
any mining has been done there. the open
ing having become dangerous The land up
on the hill belongs to j. B. CORY. His
tenants have for years been digging coal for
never ventured far into the bank, through
fear that the roof might cave in.
John Nevin Exhausted by Fright.
Tuesday night John Nevin went to the
mine to get his usual allowance of fuel.
For some reason he did not stop at the en-
try, but went on in. By the aid of his lit
tie lamp he groped his way sever al hundred
feet into the depths of the pit. Here the
first room leads off and it was there Nevin
stopped. He took his lamp from his
hat and holding it above his head
peered into the room. The flick ering
coal oil light revealed ghastly
sight Suspended to the roof by
a rope and slightly swayed by the breeze
was a long haired, whiskered skeleton.
Nevin was held spellbound by the scene
for an instant, and then exhausted by fright
he fell to the floor. Recovering, he made
his way out and spread the news of his
awful discovery. Later a party of men
entered the mine They had given little
credence to their neighbor's story, thinking
that 1t was an optical illusion, but they soon
saw for themselves.
A Bearded, Booted Skeleton Found.
AS these four or five sturdy countrymen
stood in the doorway of that underground
room, their nerve for a time departed.
Several minutes elapsed before any of them
had the courage to approach the object of
their fright. Then one BY one they entered.
The man had evidently committed suicide
from the position he was in. The room was
not much over four feet high and the skele-
ton measured five feet nine inches. Death had
been caused by hanging. The rope was still
around the mans neck and securely tied to
a timber in the roof The skeleton was in a
crouching position, the man having evil
IDENTIFY thrown himself forward. The legs
were crossed in front, and the arms hung
down at his sides. The fingers
showed that there had been convul-
sions. The flesh had entirely left
the body save on part of the face. The
growth of sandy hair, while the curly beard
and mustache of the same color looked as
natural as those on living man.
He Died With His Boots On.
The poor fellow had died with his boots
on, and in fact all his clothes He
wore a brown suit, made with a cut
coat, a checkered cheviot shirt and |
heavy topped boots, with his trousers
tucked in them. His clothes were badly |
rotted and nearly ready to drop off, The |
only things in the room save the skeleton |
were black stiff hat and small upright |
lamp. The latter was sitting off in one |
corner, the oil had all been burned out and |
only little piece of the wick was left |
There was nothing in the pockets of the |
man clothes.
The skeleton was cut down, removed to |
the outer world and the Coroner notified. |
Coroner's Clerk Grant Miller spent the |
greater part of yesterday investigating
the case. Though all the people in that
were questioned no one could |
solve the mystery. From the faet that the
man WQg clothed for winter weather It is
thought he must have been in the mine for
a year at least. 1t is altogether probable
that the suicide was committed two years
ago from the condition of the skeleton,
while no one has been in that room tor a
longer period than that. The man is sup
posed to have been between As and so wears
Of age. He would have weighed about 175
pounds
Late last night the skeleton was identi-
fed as the remains Of James Bartin, who
left home last February, taking with him the
lamp and the rope, but his wife has always
discredited the idea that be had committed
suicide. Bartin was 60 years old land
division boss on the Pittsburg, Virginia and
Charleston Railroad. Since his disappear
ance his wife has been making her home
with sister at Salt Works station.
HOW TO EXPEND THE CASH.