The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-01-30
Engulfed While Driving Along the
Highway.

SHAxoEIN Pa, Jan. 25.-While driving home
from Bear Gap last night Frederick Graeber.
a clerk in the First National Bank, and Miss
Maud Gothia TO whom he expected to be
married in few weeks, met with frightful
accident, in which the young lady was in
stantly killed and Mr.. Graeber severely in
jured
The accident was not discovered until
o'clock this morning, and Mr.. Graeber was
exposed to the bitter cold of the night with
broken leg and other injuries, and itis thought
he cannot survive the shock.
The couple had enjoyed a pleasant drive,
and Mr.. Crackers fine team of bays were
going at a rafting pace down the smooth
road, about a mile and half from Shamokin,
when suddenly the earth opened and horses,
carriage and occupants were swallowed up.
For space of thirty feet in diameter, and
taking in the road, three feet of earth separ-
ated the surface from an old mine chamber
of the Cameron colliery.
The breast had originally been worked 10
within thirty feet of the surface, cutting
through the Mammoth vein. This was a
long time ago. Since then the chain pillar
ran and inch by inch the earth crumbled
away, but no one knew of the death trap
Nature was preparing until finally the heavy
tread of the team going at a rapid rate broke
the surface and all were engulfed.
Miss Gotha was buried underneath the
mass of earth and was evidently killed at
once, while Mr.. Graeber was squeezed by
great masses of dirt During the night he
felt sharp pain assaiing his right leg, and by
long and tedious work managed to partly free
it. Blood poured from cash above the
ankle, but, procuring a handkerchief, he tied
it above the wound and then, detaching his
watchchain, twisted it about the handkerchief,
Al, o,a Of
blood. The fall kept pressing together and
by the time that he had bandaged the leg he
was again wedged IN, so firmly this time that
he could not move. As the hours wore on
he grew colder and his legs froze. Burying
his hands in the earth he saved them and
pressing his face against the earth protected
it as much as possible.
About midnight the family of Miss Gothia
became alarmed at her prolonged absence,
and her brother secured team, and with
another gentleman, started to drive to Bear
Gap to find if an accident had befallen the
couple. They took the road Mr.. Graeber was
known 10 travel. and but for the instinct of
their horses would also have driven into the
cave-in.
When the men alighted from their carriage
they heard faint call for help, and in re-
spouse to their shouts Graeber called back:
its Frederick Graeher; for God sake, help.
Mande is dead. My legs are broken and !
am freezing to death.
Upon hearing the startling announcement
Mr.. Goiha made am attempt to jump into
the breech and was caught just in time.
Finding they could do nothing without help,
the young men drove 10 town and gave the
alarm.
A resening party was quickly formed.
They soon reached the abyss. Aided with
ropes and ladder they lowered Geo. Graeber,
released the unfortunate man. who at once
told them where Miss Gothia had dSap-
peared.
He was hoisied to the surface and brought
home in Il cab Mineral Mining Company
men and volunteers worked continuously to
unearth Miss GOthia, who was found half
covered in blanket. She had smothered to
death. and when removed to her late home
it was found that she had scarcely been
scratched