The Massachusetts Spy, And Worcester County Advertiser

MONTPELIER, SEPT. 4.

SHOCKING ACCIDENT. We do not recollect ever to have witnessed a more distressing event than occurred at this village on Monday, of last week. As Mr. Samuel Mead of Middlesex, was digging dirt from the side hill, which had become shelving, more than seven hundred tons of sand and clay fell suddenly, some of it from an eminence of thirty or forty feet, burying Mr. Mead, and his cart and oxen. The alarm was instantly given by Mr. Abbott, who narrowly escaped, with the loss of one of his oxen. In a few, minutes hundreds of people were assembled at the spot, and as many as could advantageously work were incessantly employed in shovelling for the space of three hours, before the lifeless remains of Mr. Mead were discovered. He had escaped about three rods from where he was at work, but was overtaken by the falling dirt, and literally buried alive. Both his collar bones were broken, and most of his ribs on the left side. Both his oxen were killed, and the cart broken to atoms, even to the spokes and hubs of the wheels.