The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-07-29

NUM- ms grave. The story Is we'll au
thenticated.
Another murder was committed ono
Sunday near shaft number two. Smith,
a laborcr from Georgia, gave offonse to
some lrishmen, who beat him to death.
~ number OF arrests wore made AMI
there was a big trial ut old pickcns,
| but no convictions.
Several men wcro accidentally killed
at all tho shafts except number one.
Two wcro killed at shaft number two.
A man named Kelley, from Laurens,
who tho day before had boon on spree,
lost his footing on the timbers at the
mouth OF tho shaft, whore it was his
business to attend tho bucket as it ap-
pcarcd loaded with stone, and in falling
he struck Collins, an lrishmun', who
was com ng up on the bucket, and both
were hurled TO death. Kcllcy's wife
had but IL few moments before brought
her husband his dinner, and when shc
hoard OF his death she rushed fraitiuai-
iy TO the shaft and was with difficulty
restrained from jumping down.
At mum bcr three, two were killed bv
{. cave. One Of these was Il Hughes, OF
Oconec. Ga another occasion u man
was scaldcd to death by the Eoisting
engine at that shaft and several badly
Injured. At number four, three lost
their lives. Ono, young lrishman, in
trying TO jump into the bucket as it
was started down ut six in the morn.
ing, missed and Tell hcadlong, his body
finally lodging among tho Jimbcrs OF
the shalt near tho bottom. AS he fell
one OF his shoes, which wcrc of Il pccu.
liar kind, was wrcnchcd from his foot
and dropped at the feet OF tho workmcn
below, and these, hearing the commo-
tion just overhead and recognizing the
shoe, knew who was killed. Mr.. Il. ID
Foster, OF ltichland, Oconcc, Then Il
youth OF sixteen, was employed in the
tunnel, and was standing within three
feet Of where the shoe fell another
was killed by drill hammer falling
from tho bucket upon his head. 4
German, whole business was to 90
around every two hours and fill the
miners lamps, was on his way to mouth
OF shaft number four to 60 down and
I'LL lamps, when in some way unac.
counted for the materials in the box in
which he carried them exploded and
killed him. Tho men worked day and
night, Sunday excepted, by shifts, di
vidcd into three reliefs Of eight hOurs
each.
1t Is pity that road which prom.
iscd so much for tho State in general
and Charleston In particular should
have failed OF completion, tho more
particularly since it was 80 near finish
| cd. The work WAS stopped In 1850 for
want or funds, but it would no doubt
| have been renewed had not the war
| camo on 30 soon. An effort was made q
| lew years after the war To sct tho on
terpriso on foot again, bat 1t failed,
owing, no doubt, to the fact that tho
State was In the hands OF plundcrcrs
During the last winter OF the war
| nt =
company OF siXtcon-ycar-olds, was sta
TONED ut Tunnel Hill, and the youth.
full soldiers divided time between fish
ing dcscrters out OF the mountain fast
nesscs and throwing rocks into the
yawning shafts. The boys soon incur
red the hostility OF those mon in whose
breasts patriotism was at q heavy dis
count, and rum0rs often ascondcd the
hills that the dcsCrtcrs wcrc,mUving on
them In u body. One night, when the
mountain was wrapped in snow and the
boys In slumber, tho Captain decided
to test tho mcttlo OF his ycal ling sold
iers.
Acting under secret Instructions, the
picket dashed in from the post Il mile
away and pounding the boys quarters
with, Cit up, boys, the dcscrters 10
a-comin, " soon had the little camp In
an uprOar Of confusion. Some Of tho
boys got into their brccchcs back side
foremost, and John Zachary. Il nephew
| OF the Captain, buckllng on the pano-
| ply OF war as he ran, rushed to head.
quarters "t0 see what Uncle Tom was
going TO do about it," They were soou
under arms and moving steadily toward
the picket post, tho point where the
| Clayton road branches Off. Just before
reached this tue command was dcplOy-
cd and halted, and reconnoiterins
party, one Of whom was In the secret,
Jim Bcardcn, OF Oconee, believe, sent
forward. Presently the party return.
ed, but to Tho cxpectant soldiers will,
bated breath and dllated eyes theil
foCtfalls In the snow made them an in
numcrable host, and the little follow,
pulled back their musket hammers ant
liked for business. The officers coul,
hardly restrain them from firing. O
course, the reconnaissance disclosed
false alarm and the boys wore marchc
back to camp, and by morning wer
normal and were throwing rocks dow