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Way Back When |
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Written by Compiled by Terry A. Fye
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Monday, 13 April 2009 |
(Considering the widespread interest in genealogy and local history, The Punxsutawney Spirit is pleased to share with our readers vignettes of our area's past that reveal the ways life has changed over the past 114 years.
These reprinted reports with their original headlines and spelling from back issues of the local newspaper highlight events, personalities, attitudes, and lifestyles that made the news long ago. This series will appear on Mondays for your reflection and amusement.)
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE
(April 17, 1895)
A MINER FATALLY INJURED
An Explosion of Gas Causes The Death of One Man and Injury of Another
On Thursday evening two Slavishmen, employed in No. 1 Mine, Adrian, went to work about five o'clock. They had been at work but a short time when one of them went into the heading with a lamp, his partner standing in the air way. In a few seconds an explosion was heard and the man who was standing in the air way realizing what had occurred rushed into the heading to get his partner out.
He found him lying on the ground and picking him up carried him out into the air. The man was so badly burned that when his clothes were removed the skin peeled off with them. He died the following day at one o'clock, after intense suffering.
The unfortunate foreigner was thirty-six years of age and leaves a wife and six children. He carried an insurance of five hundred dollars on his life in a Slavish society.
His companion who rescued him was also badly burned, but his injuries are not of a serious nature.
•••
A RAFTING ACCIDENT
Six Men Hurled Into the Creek, One of Them Being Drowned
On Saturday afternoon William Drummond of Milton, Pa., an old gentleman aged about fifty-five years, was drowned in Little Creek. While crossing Good's dam, near Smicksburg, the deceased and five companions were caught by an oar steam and hurled into the water. With the exception of Mr. Drummond they all succeeded in getting out.
The latter gentleman wore a large pair of gum boots and had on a rubber coat. These cumbersome articles of dress impeded his movements and before he could reach a place of safety he became exhausted and sank beneath the flood.
Every effort possible was made for the recovery of his body, but the search was not successful until Sunday afternoon when it was found fully one hundred yards below the scene of the accident.
The deceased leaves a wife and family of children to mourn his loss. The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon. The unfortunate gentleman is an uncle of T. S. Drummond, of this place, and one of his
daughters is employed in the Hotel Whitney.
•••
ACCIDENTALLY SHOT
An Accident at Walston That May Result in the Death of a Slovenian
A shooting incident occurred at Walston on Thursday morning of last week which bids fair to end in the death of the wounded man. A number of Slovenians were holding a sort of celebration in the boarding house of Andrew Mleycvik and during the conversation that occurred among them Mike Sap, of Helvetia, pulled a revolver from his pocket, stating that he was never without one in his possession. It was a beauty, and the host asked to see it.
After getting possession of the weapon, he inquired as to whether it was loaded, and being assured that it was not, he began snapping the weapon.
Unfortunately one of the chambers of the weapon contained a loaded cartridge and when it exploded the ball entered the right breast of John Hrish, who was standing near, an interested spectator, the ball piercing his right lung, from which a torrent of blood instantly gushed.
The Slovenians did all in their power to ease the man's suffering, but it was not until in the afternoon that medical assistance was summoned. Drs. Blairsdell and Williams probed for the bullet but their efforts in locating it were vain.
The injured man was taken to the Adrian Hospital for treatment, but his chances for recovery were slight and but very little hope is entertained even by the most sanguine of his friends.
•••
Hardly Knew Himself
A young Canoe township farmer who was carrying a comfortable jag was in the rear end of Weber's clothing store last Saturday. There is a large mirror there, and, seeing his reflection and mistaking it for another person, he said, approaching the shadow:
"Seems to me I ought to know you."
"Dern it all," he said, "your face looks familiar, but I can't place you — blamed if I can."
Then Will Streamer, who had been watching the proceedings, burst into a loud and explosive laugh, and the fellow took a tumble to himself.
"Gol dern my buttons," he said, "if that ain't a lookin' glass."
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 14 April 2009 )
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