Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-08-15
NARROW ESCAPE.
Daniel Ferry, While Seeking Coal at
Sandy Run, Is Seriously Injured.


Daniel Ferry, of North Centre street,
met with an accident at Sandy Run
stripping at o'clock yesterday after
noon and was seriously injured inter
nally and about the legs. His escape
| from death is considered miraculous by
those who. viewed the scene Of the
accident.
The stripping is daily occupied by a
large number OF men who are digging
coal for their own use or for Freeland
people. Mr. Ferry went there yester-
day afternoon and found the place so
full OF workers that he was about to
return home, when he was informed
that large quantity of coal could be
had by entering an old breast which had
been driven to the stripping from a mine
below.
For the purpose of investigating he
entered this breast, passed under trap
door which had been placed to regulate
rthe air OF the mine below, and walked a
few feet In the darkness. Then he
struck match to view his surround
ings. When the light had burned out
he began to retrace his steps in the
direction of the exit, but mistook the
route.
He proceeded only a short distance
when he walked into hole about eigh-
teen feet deep. He struck the ground
feet foremost and accidentally grasped
Though injured, he retained his pres
encs OF mind and found that he was on
a narrow ledge OF coal and that beneath
him was another deep hole. Alone in
the darkness and clinging to his frail
support, with pains racking his body
and legs, his position was one TO try the
strongest nerve.
Two OF his neighbors, James and
Patrick Boyle, saw him enter the
abandoned breast, and after half an
hours absence they became anxious and
went in search of him. They procured
lights and cautiously groped their way
to the edge OF the precipice. Calling
his name, they received an answer and
learned of the accident.
More help was summoned and various
methods were suggested to take Ferry
from his perilous position. A twenty
five foot rope was first lowered, but this
was found useless, as the injured man
could not retain hold on it long
enough to be drawn up and would also
be further hurt by being swayed against
the ragged sides of the hole.
Other ways of rescuing him were tried
and found futile, and finally a step
ladder was attached to the rope and
lowered to Ferry. His arms, being un-
injured, were strong, and these he
placed around the rope and left his body
and legs rest upon the step-ladder. In
this manner he was slowly raised to the
top of the hole and taken to the surface.
An Investigation of the place showed
that had he not struck the narrow ledge
OF coal upon which he landed when he
fell, or had he not grasped the brattice,
he would have fallen fully fifty feet
further before reaching the bottom of
the hole and would probably have been
dashed to death.
The injured man was removed to his
home in Kemmerer & Co.'S ambulance.
The attending physicians found that no
bones we're broken, but that the shock
received by the fall had injured him
internally and had numbed his legs and
lower portion of the back and body.
He is suffering severe pain today, but
no more serious results are liable to fol-
low.
Mr.. Ferry and his family removed
from Upper Lehigh to Freeland short
time ago. He has many friends through
out the region who rejoice that his ad-
venture did not end fatally.