Bente, Michael 1848-1870; Goodendorf, Frederick d. 1870

BENTE, GOODENDORF

Posted By: Audrey Haught, volunteer
Date: 8/20/2015 at 17:35:27

Horrible Catastrophe!
Two men Buried Alive in a Well – A third Barely Escapes with his life.

One of the most terrible, heart-rending accidents occurred on Friday last about three miles from town that we have ever been called to record. Wm. Bente, with this two sons, Michael and Wm. Bente, Jr., and Frederick Goodendorf, were engaged in deepening a well which had been dug a year ago. They were succeeding with their work and were about ready to lay the rock.

But unfortunately they had failed to remove the loose dirt which had been thrown behind the wall built last year, and in an unexpected moment, while the latter three were all down in the bottom of the well, one of them, Wm. Bente, Jr., discovered some earth falling on him.

Intuitively recognizing the impending danger, he grasped the rope of the windmill, and with a rapidity and agility inexplicable to himself, snaked himself to the top. He had not got more than half way up, when with a thundering noise the well caved in, the dirt flying about his legs. But in a moment, as if by superhuman power, he had swung himself up.

Before coming up, he had the presence of mind to lay a couple of planks above his brother and Goddendorf, thinking thus to save them, but alas it did not prove sufficient. They were buried for nearly twenty feet under rock and earth.

This occurred about 4 o’clock in the afternoon. The whole neighborhood turned out to assist with extricating them, but did not reach them until next day noon. Of course life had fled from both of them. Both Michael Bente and Goodendorf leave families, upon whom the loss will fall heavy.

Clayton County Journal: December 7, 1870

Bente is buried in the Communia Cemetery