The Carthage Republican
Carthage, Illinois
08-16-1866
Page 3
Column 1SUFFOCATION BY DAMPS. --- On Wednesday last, a man named William Thurber was suffocated in a well which he had been digging for Isaac Langley, 5 miles east of Carthage. Thurbur had been digging during the forenoon but stopped at dinner time. Upon going down into the well, after dinner, when near the bottom, he called to his assistant to draw him up, as there were damps in the well. He almost immediately fell out of the bucket to the bottom of the well. Assistance was sent for at once. Mr. Newton Cawthorn, residing some half mile off, soon arrived, and tying a rope to his body was lowered into the well. By the time he reached the bottom he succumbed to the influence of the vitiated air, and was dragged to the surface in almost a lifeless condition. The usual means were then resorted to, to free the well of damps, the body of Thurbur was recovered, and every effort to rescussitate life but without avail. Mr. Cawthorn suffered severely for a day or two, but has finally recovered.
The Carthage Republican
Carthage, Illinois
08-14-1946
Page 4
Column 5Eighty Years Ago
William Thurber was suffocated in a well he had been digging for Isaac Langley living five miles east of Carthage. He worked through the morning, had his dinner, then went down into the well again, but when near the bottom called to his assistant to draw him up, and immediately fell from the bucket to the bottom of the well. Help was sent for and Newton Cawthorn, living a half-mile distant, soon arrived, a rope was tied around his body and he was lowered into the well. By the time he reached the bottom he, too, was overcome by the vitiated air and was dragged to the surface in an almost lifeless condition, and was quite sick for several days. The usual means were employed to free the well of damps, and the body of Mr. Thurber was recovered, every effort being made to restore life, but without avail.
Siegfried XIX page 140
1866
William Thurber was suffocated in a well he had been digging for Isaac Langley living five miles east of Carthage. He worked through the morning, had his dinner, then went down into the well again, but when near the bottom called to his assistant to draw him up, and immediately fell from the bucket to the bottom of the well. Help was sent for and Newton Cawthorn, living a half-mile distant, soon arrived, a rope was tied around his body and he was lowered into the well. By the time he reached the bottom he, too, was overcome by the vitiated air and was dragged to the surface in an almost lifeless condition, and was quite sick for several days. The usual means were employed to free the well of damps, and the body of Mr. Thurber was recovered, every effort being made to restore life, but without avail.
The Carthage Gazette
Carthage, Illinois
11-1-1866, 11-8-1866, 11-15-1866, 11-22-1866, 11-29-1866, 12-6-1866Notice to Claimants.
Estate of Wm. Thurber, deceased.
N OTICE is hereby given, that the under-
signed Administratrix of the estate ofWM. THURBER,
late of Hancock county, Illinois, dec'd, will at-
tend before the county court of said county,
at the Court House in Carthage, on the 3d
Monday in the month of December, A.D., 1866,
for the purpose of adjusting all claims against
said estate, when and where all claimants are
requested to present their demands for adjust-
ment. All persons indebted to said estate are
requested to make payment to the undersigned
without delay.Dated the 18th day of Oct. A. D., 1866.
69-6W KEZIAH THURBER, Adm'x
Parents: James Thurber & Elizabeth Johnson
Wife: Keziah Jane Langley
Brothers: Martin Thurber, James Thurber, Nathaniel Thurber, Oliver Thurber
Sisters: Mary Thurber, Lydia Thurber, Jeanette Thurber
