The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-23
FELL Two HUNDRED feet
Terrible Plunge of John COnnOrs in
West Ridge COmpany's Shaft.
THROWN OFF THE CARRIAGE
lie Had Neglected to Secure a Tight Hold
on the Side of the Cage and When
1t Suddenly stopped
lie Flow Off.

John Connors of the South Side, was
cVertaken by terrible death in the
West Ridge Coal companys mines in
the North End at o'clock last night.
He fell down the shaft, over 200 feet
deep, and his body was horribly man
Gled
The unfortunate man was employed
by Deacle Bros, contractors, who are
engaged in sinking the shaft for the
West Ridge Coal company. 1t Is stu
ated at the corner of North Main ave-
nue. and Ferdinand street.
Connors and q fellow-workman
named McCluigley were engaged in re-
moving platform from the 14-foot
vein. 1t was necessary that they
should have to displace n large beam
that was preventing them from loading
the platform on the mine carriage. The
beam was about fourteen feet long and
twelve inches square and was securely
spiked in it's position.
First they drew out the spikes and
then they had to get long chain and
haul it from its place, by attaching the
chain around the beam and hitching
the other end to the bottom of the car
riage. Then by giving the signal to
the engineer to hoist, the power of the
engine was utilized to drag the beam
| from it's position 1t was out of the ques-
| ton for them to try by their strength to
remove it.
A man named Thomas Boland and
Polander employed in the shaft came
| there, and these two got upon the car
riage with Connors. McQuigley went
to the speaking tube and gave the sig
nal to the engineer to hoist the car
riage.
lie Warned the Men,
| McQuigley, at the same time warned
the men to catch tight hold of the
rods on the carriage, as the jerk might
throw any of them off. Connors, un-
fortunately, was not guarded for the
sudden jolt that came when the power
of the engine hauled the beam from its
position.
The heavy weight of the beam, when
1t came taut against the chain. lurched
the carriage and Connors toppled of.
He fell down through the opening
where the beam had been taken from
and in the descent to the bottom his
head struck against a projecting TIM
Der, tearing off the top of his skull and
scattering his brains against the bunt-
ing in the shaft.
| The distance to the bottom or Dun
more vein, is over 200 feet, and the
sump at the foot of the shaft is sixteen
feet deep, filled with water. Connors
struck with an awful thud in the
water.
The men descended as quickly as
possible to recover the body and they
found it suspended by the right arm
from a beam that stretched across the
sump.
They removed the remains to the
surface as quickly as possible and
transferred it to the undertaking estap-
lishment of ID. d. Jones & Son, where
the body was prepared for removal TO
it's late home.
A sad feature of the accident is the
fact that the men We're almost through
work and would have departed Tor
home in a few minutes. They were
working overtime, as the Shift they
were on ordinarily finished at 3 O'Clock
in the afternoon. The four men were
all that were in the shaft at the time.
Connors was about 50 years of age
married, but had no family, except a
9-year-old adopted boy. He lived with
his mother-in-law, Mrs. Bernard Nc
Bride, at 1927 Stone avenue. His wife
is in the western part of Ohio visiting
relatives, and since her departure Con-
nors had boarded with his parents in
Green Ridge.
Mine Inspector Patrick Blewitt and
Coroner Kelley were notified ana VIII
probably look into the case today.