Today’s Chancy Yet Truly Morbid Fact!
Mine Inspector’s Report
for
HOUGHTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1902.
JOSIAH HALL, Mine Inspector.
ACCIDENT No. 46.—August 30. Gust Capanan and his partner employed as trammers at the 31st level of D shaft, Atlantic mine, brought a car of rock to the shaft. Capanan crossed the shaft in order to get to the bell line to signal for the skip. He put his head in the shaft to look down, when he was struck by the descending skip on the back of his head and knocked down the shaft, a distance of over two hundred feet. He was found in a few minutes lifeless. The deceased took great chances by looking down, knowing the skip was above him, and would soon be down to where he was. No inquest was held.
Culled from: Some Fatal Accidents in the Atlantic, Baltic, Champion, Trimountain and Winona Copper Mines
Accident Du Jour!
Thanks to Strange Company I am now aware of the existence of a children’s book entitled “The Book of Accidents or Warnings to the Heedless” (1836). This delightful creation is an example of 19th century small booklets that were often mass produced and sold on the streets. These “chapbooks” as they are called, were produced and sold cheap so as to make them more accessible to children of all socioeconomic statuses. Because of this, the quality of the paper is usually poor with nothing but thread holding the sheets together. Ultimately the chapbooks of the 19th century evolved into the timeless and still popular comics of the early 20th century. Also, look how tiny it is!
I found The Book of Accidents online and thought I’d share an accident a day. You can see where Edward Gorey got his inspiration for The Gashlycrumb Tinies!
THROWN BY A HORSE.
The father of little George Careless had a fine, high spirited horse. One day he left the horse standing at the door, and told George not to go near him, lest he should get hurt. But George was not afraid; not he. As soon as his father had gone into the house, what does he do, but unfasten the bridle from the post and mount the horse, thinking to have a short ride and return before his father came out. As soon as the horse felt his light weight, he began to kick and prance, and finally threw Master George off and broke his arm. So much for disobedience.
Andersonville Prisoner Diary Entry Du Jour!
This is the continuation of the 1864 diary of Andersonville prisoner Private George A. Hitchcock (see the archived version for all entries up until now).
Here’s today’s entry:
July 7th. Very hot. Several “wood riots” and knock-downs occurred. The quartermaster has issued axes to each detachment, thereby stopping the letting of axes at fifty and seventy-five cents an hour, which the blood-suckers have been practicing.
Culled from: Andersonville: Giving Up the Ghost