Brooks Hamilton Reed (1895)
REED
Posted By: Linda Smith
Date: 8/3/2004 at 22:11:47
Winterset Madisonian, Tuesday, 06 Aug 1895, page 3
SUFFOCATED BY DAMPS
Brooks Reed Meets This Horrible Death Near Truro
He Goes Down an 80-Foot Well He had been Digging for S. M. Creger – Dead Before Relief Arrives
One of the most shocking tragedies that have happened in this vicinity for a long time, occurred yesterday on the farm of S. M. Creger, a short distance north of Truro. This occurrence resulted in the death of Mr. Brooks Reed. He was engaged in boring a well for Mr. Creger, having worked at it Friday and Saturday, reaching a depth of 80 feet. On Monday work was resumed, and two buckets of dirt had been hoisted, when something about the auger gave way. Mr. Reed started to go down to investigate, by climbing down the shaft of the auger. When part way down, his hold loosened, and he fell or slid to the bottom. No apparatus for rescuing him was at hand. The presence of carbonic acid gas, commonly called “damps” was feared. An attempt was made to lower a man by a rope, but it was observed that at no great depth he began to swoon and he was drawn up again. Tests with a lamp showed the unmistakable presence of the gas. It is supposed that the hoisting of the two buckets of dirt had raised the gas from the bottom, where it had gathered after work had ceased on Saturday, for Mr. Reed was know to be alive for at least an hour and a half after reaching the bottom as his breathing, moans and struggles could be distinctly heard. Death would be the natural result of the gradual filling of the gas, which is somewhat heavier than air.
It was learned that Mr. Oscar Shepherd, who lives three or four miles west of St. Charles, on the Winterset road, who himself works at well digging, was supplied with safety apparatus for going into deep wells. He was sent for, and came. His apparatus is something like that used by divers, being a long rubber tube fastened from the mouth and nostrils, through which air is forced from the surface. Being thus protected, he descended safely, but found Mr. Reed already dead. The body was then brought out without much difficulty. Had the apparatus been on hand, Mr. Reed’s life could have been saved.
Brooks Reed was about thirty-five years of age. He leaves a wife and seven children, mostly small. Fortunately, he leaves them comfortably provided for so far as means of subsistence go.
______________________Unknown Newspaper
Hiatt Obituary Collection
Madison County Historical Society[Account similar to above]
He carried a policy of $1,000 upon his life and had considerable property, which will leave the family in comparatively good circumstances. The funeral was held Tuesday at 4 o'clock, and an immense concourse of people were in attendance.
Gravesite
Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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