Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1938-03-10

I find in my records, however,
that in nearly every part OF our
county, at some time or another,
there occurred an accident that was
so out of the ordinary that record
should be made of it, l will report
a few of these which had either a
peculiar interest to the entire coun-
ty or to that part where it happen
ed.
The one l shall report here had
Ia peculiar significance in that it
might be considered, by those be-
lieving in the old superstitions, as
being one of those fated to happen
and in old times would have been
considered as having been required
Everyone in both town and coun
try recalls A. P. Sheridan, OF
Plum as he was called. He was
the father Of Stan Sheridan, now
of the Democrat office, and his
birthday was on November %. The
father Of A. P. Sheridan was Thorn
as Sheridan.
The first bridge to connect the
pleted by December Is, 1856, but
if you will read Robertsons history
page 153, you will find that it was
taken out by an ice gorge before il
was even completed.
Those interested in the construc-
ton of this bridge at once arranged
for wooden bridge to be built, US
ing the same stone pillars, as they
had not been taken away, and in
September the bridge was open to
traffic, even though it had not been
fully completed.
During the erection of the bridges
no life had been lost, and, so far as
we have any records, no one injur-
| ed.
At that time we had no system OF
lighting the streets in either town
and after dark those who had to be
out went about as best they could
or carried lantern to light thell
way Sidewalks were a rare item
and the streets, after rain, moi
much more than rivers of mud. Or
such a dark night Thomas Sheridan
who lived in Malta, but had been or
this side of the river on business
started home There was no gate
| yet erected at the end of the bridge
where the draw was, and through
carelessness of someone, now un
known, the draw had been left open
Mr.. Sheridan walked onto the
bridge and off the open space where
the draw should have been and fel
onto the rocks below, the notes
have say he "broke his leg so baC
| it had to be cut off and he was 9th
erwise injured
No one else was present at the
time and it was some little time be
| fore John Edwards. who livet
where the old Morgan house used t6
stand, on the south side of the
street at the foot of Main street
about where Mr. Abel now lives
heard his cry and went out ant
found him. The old Post house
was where the Franklin hotel now
stands and Mr.. Edwards spread the
alarm to those who were there ant
Mr.. Sheridan was finally taken from
the rocks and medical aid summon
ed The leg was SO badly broker
that amputation was necessary and
on account of that and the other in
juries he had received, some o1
them internal in all probability, he
lived but day or two afterward
I have been unable to fix the ex-
|act date this accident happened
but do know that he was buried on
the goth of November, 1868, so it
was likely not more than three
days previous to that.
So, while the bridge did not Sc
cure it's human sacrifice while il
was being erected, it was but a
short time after it was opened tc
traffic that it did so.
And thus the requirements of the
|ages was upplied.-Stanbery AL
derman.
(No part of these articles may be
reproduced without the written per
mission of the publisher.