The News and courant. (Cartersville, Ga.) 1901-1904, October 06, 1904, Image 1
w Series—Vol. Ill—No 41)
mining CATASTROPHE
Five Men are Buried Beneath
Great Dirt and Ore Slide.
The most harrowing mining
catastrophe in the history of min
ing in Bartow county th£ great
Chinnier Hill cave in a few years
;i go, not excepted, occurred at the
mine of the Morgan Mining Cos.
last Monday.
A great mass of ore aiyl dirt
tumbled suddenly in in a cut where
a jorce of nten were working and
buried them all beneath it. The
president of the company and
manager of the mine, Mr. R. P.
Morgan, was in the cut ahd was
among the victims of the accident.
There were known to have been
four men besides Mr. Morgan in
tin.- cut, where the mass fell.
The mine is about four miles a
little east of south from Carters
ville, and north of Emerson two
and a half miles. It was opened
two years ago by the company,
consisting of R. P. Morgan, presi
dent and manager; J. J. Peter,
secretary and treasurer, and L. D.
Knight. It was a rich deposit,
being in the side of a good sized
hill and some strong veins seeming
to be continuous, were grounds
sufficiently encouraging to the
compauy to build a railroad to
Emerson to connect with the W.
& A., and thus remove the neces
sity of hauling the ore several
miles in wagons. The road was
finished about six months ago.
The work began in a great open
ing in the side of the hill, with
several small side tunnels, until a
short time ago, to follow a specially
rich lead, anew broad opening was
made leading out from the old one.
It was 9:30 o’clock. The morn
ing’s work was well under way
and Mr. Morgan, w T ho had just
driven out from the city had w r alked
in the cut and began talking to
his men.
William Wheeler, the watch
man on the bank above saw the
earth giving way on the side of
the cut and yelled to the men
below to “look out.” Instantly
the mass of dirt and ore went
down. Later indications proved
that the warning was heard by at
least some of the meu.
Mr. Wheeler seeing the horrible
situation at once put the small
force notin the cut but around the
engine and washer to removing dirt
thus starting the work of possible
rescue, and then, telephoned to
Emerson and Cartersville for help.
Men were rushed from the neigh
boring mines to the place and
physicians also responded. A
force from about Emerson on the
dummy train and a force from the
American Ochre Co’s mine, were
the first on hand, numbering about
thirty. Then . forces from the
Bartow and the Kelley and the
Smith mines came until there were
at least sixty stout men swiftly
and resolutely at work removing
dirt, with the hope of saving at
some of the victims alive-
Physicians who were on hand
were Doctors Calhoun Buford and
Felton, from Cartersville and
Monroe, of Emerson.
The falling mass was in the
uature of a slick head. A heavy
stratum of ore near the top of the
ground overlaid a mass of clay.
The elav giving down from some
cause, made the ore finalfy
topple, and the whole mass fell in.
It was estimated that no less than
400 tons of clay and ore went
down. The cut was about 100 feet
into the hill and at least fifty feet
deep. The mass came from the
side of the cut opposite to where
the miners were at work, and in its
sweep covered every part of the
cut, making a great hole in the
wall and laying from a thin edge
THE NEWS AND COURANT.
at the opening up to at least fifteen
feet at the end of the cut.
William Henry,the mule boy,was
a little way in the cut. He was
practically unhurt, receiving only
a few slight bruises.
Al. Buford, colored was covered
to his waist. His left thigh, right
ankle and left wrist were broken.
He will get well.
Wright Milner, colored, was
barely covered up. When brought
out it was found that his left leg
was fractured in two places and his
right hip was fractured and dislo
cated. -
Both Buford and Milner talked
with the men while they were at
their rescuing work.
At 11:53 bv the watch, the body
of Mr. Morgan was taken out. It
was right against the wall and be
hind and partly over a tram car.
He was in a stooping posture. His
hat was in his hand and his wrist
resting on his head, was broken.
A fifty pound boulder lay on his
neck and his neck was brokeu.
The tram car was torn to pieces
and a piece of the wood phrced
Mr. Morgan’s body. Hisjeg was
also broken. With the crowd that
had gathered, numbering several
hundred —besides the neighboring
miners and farmers of the locality,
people from this city having gone to
the place—the climax of anxiety
was reached pending the taking
out of Mr. Morgan’s body. The
men with had worked
with a will and a brotherly feeling
and the rigidly solemn counte
nances of these and the spectators
made a scene those witnessing will
not soon forget.
While the work went on, Mr.
Morgan’s body was brought to
the city and taken to the store
of Mr. Geo. M. Jackson, the
furniture man and undertaker, to
be prepared for^ burial.
It was seven o’clock in the after
noon before all the bodies had been
recovered. The next one found
after Mr. Morgan was that of young
Jim Harris, Jr. It was pinioned
against the wall of the cut and was
fearfully mashed. The last body
found was that of Bob Boynton, a
negro. It was likewise mashed
into almost unrecognizable shape.
Ai. Buford, who was caught on
his way out of the cut, in hearing
the watchman’s warning, ran, going
around the tram car. Mr. Morgan
judging from the position in
which he was found, is supposed
to have heard the warning but
supposing the slide only a small
one, such as is quite frequent,
expected to escape hy *< jumping
behind the tram car.
The great calamity has beeti the
source of great interest and excite
ment and has been the one theme
of conversation since its occurrence.
The death oi Mr. Morgan especial
ly has been a great shock to the
community. “Bert,” as he was
familiarly known among his many
friends, had one of those rare dis
positions that always attract and
never repel. He was notably good
natured and had a good word for
everybody and never said aught
against anyone. The evening just
previous to his death he was dis
pensing sunshine in a jolly conver
sation with some young gif Is just
leaving for school. In the city
before leaving for the mines on the
fatal morning he was especially
pleasant and exuberant. If he
|
had tarried anywhere a few minutes
on the trip he would have escaped.
Mr. Morgan was a fine young bus
iness man, industrious and push
ing and yet discreet, and clean and
manly in all his dealings.
Mr. Morgan was 35 yearsold. He
was a member of the Episcopal
church. He came to Cartersville
lIAKTEItSVILLE, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, OCTOBER <S. 1904.
WORK ID BEGIN SOON
Contractors Looking 1 Over
L. & N. Extension.
ONE COTRACT WANTED.
Contract for the Building of the
Road to Have Been Let Yes
terday at Madisonville.
A large number of prominent
railway contractors have been in
Cartersville recently, going from
this point over the route of the
new railroad iroin Wetmore to
Cartersville. These contractors
were all en route to Madisonville,
Tenn., where the contract for build
ing the road was let on Wednes
day of this week.
Some of the largest construction
firms in the country have had rtp
resentatives here prospecting the
route and collecting information
about the work.
It is said that the company
wished to let the contract to one
party, and that this contractor
would sublet the grading in 'nine
mile sections. It is now thought
that the work of grading will be
gin at an early date.
The Murray News says the L.
Nr. N. railway is condemning land
in Murray county, through which
its right of way is to be extended,
and that a camp of workers will
soon be formed near Spring Place.
In this connection a story comes
from Chattanooga that the E. &
N. will reach Dalton over the Dal
ton & Alaculsy road,, and from
there enters Chattanooga over the
W. & A. tracks, thus giving Chat
tanooga a competing line to Knox
ville.
It is now said that the road from
Wetmore to Cartersville will not
be built beyond this point, but that
the tracks of the W. & A. and the
East and West will supply the out
let to Atlanta, Birmingham and
other points desired from here.
in 1888, from Boston and conducted
some small industries for several
years. In 1892 he married Miss
Lila Calhoun, jaughter of Capt. J.
J. Calhoun, of this city. With his
wife he went to Colorado, spending
eight years at Grand Junction,
on a large ranch of his. Several
years ago he returned to
Cartersville to make it his home.
He is suivived by his wife, one
brother, G. M. Morgan, of Boston,
and one sister, Mrs, L. A. Fralick,
of New York. Ralph Barber, the
magazine writer, of Boston, is his
nephew. Mr. Barber and his wife
paid Mr. Morgan a visit a few
months ago.
The relatives were notified by
'telegram of bis death but found it
impossible to reach here for bis
funeral.
The remains were taken to the
the bonle ot Capt. Calhoun Mon
day night and the funeral was
conducted from the Presbyterian
church at 4 o’clock Tuesday after
noon.
The pail bearers were: H. T.
Bradley, L. D. Knight, J. J. Peter,
Thomas Lumpkin, Sim Archer, M.
G. Dobbins.
The service was a simple but im
pressive one, conducted by Rev.
W. A. Cleveland.
Young Jim Harris, who was
among the victims, leaves a wife
and several childen.
A strange thing about the acci
dent is the fate or present where
abouts of a strange negro that went
into the cut to hire. His remains
could not be found and yet no one
remembers seeing him run out.
Goes to Louisville.
Rev. J. E. Barnard, after return
ing from Newnan, last Friday
night was in Caitersville until
Sunday night. He then went to
Louisville, Ky., to assist in carry
ing on a meeting at that place.
MRS. MERRELL DEAD
Good Lady Passes Away
Last Friday.
FtNEBAL ON SATURDAY
Formerly Lived in Cedartown But
Moved to Cartersville Sev
eral Years Ago.
Mrs. J. W. Merrell died at her
home in Cartersville last Friday
morning, and was buried in Oak
Hill cemetery Saturday afternoon,
the funeral services being con
ducted by Rev. T. J. Christian,
assistei by Rev. J. E. Barnard.
Mrs. Merrell was fifty-seven years
of age, and had lived in Carters
ville about four years, having
moved here from Cedartovvn.
Mrs. Merrell had been ill about
ten days. She is survived by lier
husband and two married daugh
ters. They are Mrs. J. A. Mon
fort, of Cartersville, and Mrs.
Whitstone, of Lock City, Fla. All
the members of her family were
present at her death.
Mrs. Merrell was a most excel
lent lady, a devoted member of
the Methodist church, and her
death causes deep sorrow among
her relatives and a large circle of
friends.
A Card of Tlntnk.s.
Allow me to express in your
paper my many thanks to the
young people of my church for the
comfortable and valuable present
they made to their pastor in the
way of an eighteen dollar Morris
chair. I assure all who contributed
to this that it is as gratefully
received as it was cheerfully given.
I know it comes from loving and
loyal hearts. May heaven’s richest
blessings rest upon each of these
dear-*young people who are so
devoted to their church and pastor.
John E. Barnard.
Stole Razors.
Tuesday night the Dalton police
force got a wire to look out for a
negro boy who was accused of
stealing nine dollars and two razors
from a Cartersville barber. Jim
Renfroe, of the Dalton police force,
nabbed the erring coon and lodged
him in durance vile, and wired
Cartersville to that effect. An
officer came up on the midnight
train and took the alleged thief
back with him.—Dalton Citizen.
Pastor Absent.
There will be no preaching at
the Presbyterian church next
Sabbath morning. The pastor will
be in Eubarlee assisting in the ded
ication of the school buildings.
He will return in the afternoon
and preach in the evening oti “The
Fifth Commandment; or Duties of
Children to their Parents.” A cor
dial invitation extended to the
young people especially.
Joined the Baptists.
It is announced from Rockmart
that Rev. Dr. J. T. Gibson, well
known as a former minister of the
Methodist church, has joined the
Baptist church. Dr, Gibson has
for some years been editor of the
Cedartovvn Advance Courier.
Expert Pickers.
Jack and Albert Pace, a couple
ot industrious negrpes, picked 665
pounds of cotton Monday on Mr.
J. J. Creen’s plantation. This is
picking cotton some!-Cedartown
Standard.
Beautiful new line of Tapestry
and Axminister art squares and
rugs, just received at Chapman &
Conn’s
And Love is Blind.
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THE ADJOURNED TERM
Bartow Superior Court to Con
vene on Fourth Monday.
The adjourned term of Bartow
superior court will meet on the
fifth Monday in October, the
31st, and will continue until the
business now on the dockets is
finished.
The jurors who were drawn for
the second Monday in July, hav
ing served their term, will not be
required to attend the adjourned
term.
The jurors, however, who were
drawn for the third Monday in
July, are expected to be on hand
October 31st, and will serve dur
ing the first week of the adjourned
term. Those drawn for the fourth
Monday in July are required to at
tend the week following at the ad
journed ici ui, Monday, Novem
ber 7.
No criminal business except
jail-cases will be tried during the
first week.
All of the district road commis
sioners of the county will be ex
pected to appear before the grand
jury on the first day of the term
and report the condition of the
roads in their respective districts.
The jurors who will attend the
first week are as follows:
FIRST WEEK.
Lewis N. Gtlreath, Cassville.
W. J. Pitman, Cassville.
James H. Gaines, Carsvilh.
D. T. Baker, Wolf Pen.
W. C Kilby, Pine Log.
Orville R. McElrov, Fourth.
Henry G. Scott, Kingston.
Thomas N. Pittard, Cassville.
J. M. Knight, Stamp Creek.
Will McGowan, Eutiarlee.
W. J. Hicks, Wolf Pen.
John W. Proctor. Iron Hill.
T. A. Jenkins, Stamp Creek.
R. F. Kincannon, Fourth.
J. B. Crawford, Cassville.
Oscar W. Haney, Wolf Pen.
Willard W. Martin, Cassville.
W. J. Kincannon, Fourth.
John W. Callahan, Fourth.
James D. Pittard, Cassville.
Samuel F. Milam, Fourth.
I). L. Martin, Eubarlee.
Bodie M. Alford, Iron Hill.
Lewis V. Wilson, Adairsville,
Robert L. Saxon, Fourth.
John J. Pearson, Kingston.
J. W. Hood, Kingston.
W. H. Howard, Fourth.
J. G. Cannon, Eubarlee.
C. C. Wilkes', Fourth.
H. J. White, Pine Log.
J. T. Bennett, Allatoona.
C. H. Powell, Eubarlee.
Jeff M. Hall, Cassville.
David Weaver, Cassville.
Oscar W. Adcock, Six*th.
SECOND WEEK.
Robert L- Webb, Fourth.
D. W. LoudermYlk, Adairsville.
B. F. Posey. Cassville.
Henry B. Barton, Sixth.
F. C. Cunningham, Adairsville.
J. R. Banton, Fourth.
A. Y. Sheats. Kingston.
Richard u. Gaines, Kingston.
O. U. Glasgow, Cassville.
Redding Floyd. Sixth,
A. R. Butler, Taylorsville.
B. C. Sloan. Cassville.
Samuel Kennedy, Euharlee.
Caleb Heath, Wolf Pen.
Albert J. Cox, Fourth,
John H. Walker, Cassville.
Arthur W. Dodd. Euharlee-
Z. T. Edwards, Sixth.
D. F. Craddock, Kingston.
S. P. Satterfield, Fourth.
Jack F\ Bennett, Pine Log.
John Y 7. Fitzsimmons, Fourth.
S. G. H. Barton, Sixth,
Thomas G. Mansfield, Fourth.
P. F. Renfroe, Fourtfi.
George S. Grogan, Adairsville.
John Teague, Wolf Pen.
George W. Covington, Pine Log.
Sam A. Nelson, Taylorsville.
E. W. Yarbrough, Euharlee.
Green B. Foster, Fourth.
Old Series—2stli Year
Albert F. Noland, Adairsville.
James M Jackson, Fourth.
John L. White, Pine Fog.
William H. Sherman, Kingston.
W. T- Pittard, Cassville.
31 RS. J. E SUMMERVILLE.
Siie Passes Away at Home of Her Parents, in
This City, Last Week.
Mrs, J. E. Summerville died at
her home of her parents, Mr. and
Mrs. J. K. Trippe in Cartersville,
Saturday after an illness of two
week.
She was buried in Oak Hill
cemetery Monday and the funeral
services were conducted by Rev. A.
J. Morgan of Acworth.
Mrs. Sutnmesville is survived
by her husband and two small
children and by numerous relatives
and friends to mourn her death.
She was the sister of Dr. R. P.
Trippe, J, W. and Luther Trippe,
of Atlanta, Mrs. J. P. Davis, of
Taylorsville aud Mrs. O. M.
Brazleton, of Selma, Ala.
Cotton Diseased.
Prof, Wilmon Newell, state en
tomologist, writes the Standard
that the diseased cotton bolls sent
him a few days ago are affected
with “cotton anthracnose,” a fun
gous disease, a full description of
which was given by him in an arti
cle in this paper on the 15th inst.
It seems that there is no present
remedy, unless the tedious expedi
ent of picking and burning the
diseased bolls is resorted to, but no
cotton should be planted next year
on the land where the crop is so
affected now. —Cedartown Stand
ard.
Goes to Dublin.
We regret very much to learn
that Mr. D. C. Beckham our es
teemed citizen and jeweler left
Saturday for Dublin, Ga. Mr.
Beckham and family have lived in
Cartersville for the past tour years,
during which time they have made
many warm friends who regret
very much to see them leave.
Home Mission
The Home Mission society will
meet at the Methodist church
Monday afternoon at 3 o’clock,
October 10. All members are ear
nestly requested to be present, this
is the last meeting before the week
of prayer, also the district meeting
Bible study numbers, xv —xxxvi.
The “Other Day.”
Mr. 1L 11. Yreeland, president of
the Metropolitan Street Railway
company, was going to New York
city on the Long Island ferry re
cently and encountered the crowds
of people returning to the city from
the race track. The boat was so
filled that Mr. Yreeland was com
pelled to stand outside, and he heard
the following conversation between
two negroes who had evidently not
seen each other for some time:
“Say, Mr. Jackson, yo’ sutinly
surprise vo’ fren’s by yo’ prosperity.
Yo’ wear such fine clothes, an’ ev
erybody tole me yo’ ajways got mon
ey/’
“Oh, I plays de races, Johnson!”
“Well,’ I always hear dat people
dat play de races win one day an’
lose de nex’.”
“Yes, dat’s right, but I only go
down every other day.”—New York
Times.
Mrs. J. P. Lewis is improving from
her recent illness.
Mr. O. D. Anderson returned from
a visit to Adairsville Tuesday.
Mr. Charlie Collins, of Dalton, spent
Wednesday here.
Mrs. Cone Maddox has returned
home after visiting in Atlanta several
months.
Uncle Bob Rogers, of Rogers, was
here Wednesday.
Lost —A gold brooch, coral setting,
finder please leave at this office.
Mrs. Dr. Bradley, of Adairsville,
spent Tuesday here.