Mayes, Will died 1898

MAYES

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 10/4/2011 at 05:06:52

From the Alton Democrat of Apr 9, 1898.
From the Rook Valley Register
Tuesday afternoon while engaged in digging a well on the Quinn farm one mile west and five miles north of Rock Valley, Will Mayes came to his death. The progress of the work had been stopped by rocks and dynamite had to be resorted to. An explosion was caused and Mr, Mayes went into the well to resume work but finding That the explosion had not produced the desired effect, he remained in the well thirty minutes arrangeing another. After the second explosion the illfated man again descended into th ewell but this time the explosion had broken the rocks and let loose natural gas with the dymanite smoke and the unfortunate man met his death in a few seconds. It was nearly two and a half hours before the body could be rescured. The man came from Texas and has no relatives to be found, the body was interred at Inwood on Wednesday afternoon.
(This unfortunate man was buried without his relatives' knowledge. On line found a Will Mayes son of Lee Allen Mayes and Elvira McDole who were living in Texas in 1898-1908. Only a possibility.)