The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-10
A TRIPLE FATALITY.
MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE IN wEsTcHEsTFR
CouNTY-rHREK PERSONS sUFFocATED IN

MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE IN wEsTcHEsTFR
couNTY-rHREE PERSONS suFFocArED IN A
WELL.
Almost unfortunate occurrence transpired at White
Plains. Wcstchcsier county, yesterday morning, in
volving the almost SPONTANEOUS death OF three per
sons who, through imprudence, may be SAID TO have
been directly instrumental in their own taking of
The i'll fated parties we're Cornelius Donovan, aged
orty-hvc; Timothy Donovan. brother of the former.
aged forty, and Cornelius Donovan lad of seventeen
and son to Timothy II seemed that Timothy
who lived within few steps OF his brother ON
Chatterlon Hiil. had been engaged in deep
ening well on his premises during
tho previous day, and 10 accomplish this a rock re-.
quired blasting. This rock located at depth Of
about thirty feet in irregular hole not more than
four feet wide. Accordingly blast was arranged
Tuesday evening, but it refused explode when fred
Notwithstanding the assertion that Timothy and his
son endeavored to set it OH by igning quantity OF
pine shavings over it. When night fell they covered
the well over with boards Early yesterday morning
the father and resumed work, and the latter
taking hold OF a rope attached TO the windass,
attempted to descend for the purpose OF
examining the defective blast. He had been lowered
TO within q few feet OF the bottom wnen without giving
any warning he suddenly relaxed his hold of the rope
and fell Amer calling repeatedly to his son and re-
ceiving reply, Timothy shouted to his brother
Corneous for assistance, seized the rope and lowered
himself into the fatal hole, where tho dealhlike still
ness which again ensued convinced the remaining
brother that something was wrong below. He at once
ran short distance to the house OF a
and help hun, as he feared his brother and
nephew were both dead at the bottom OF the we'll
fastening back 10 the OF the disaster Cornelius
who appeared TO be in hall crazcd condition, let him.
sell down by oding with his hands and feet
he had Time to reach tho bottom however, he shouted
for rope. which was I'm mcdatey lowered, but moth
ing more was heard from him, an indication which lott
room in the minds OF those above doubt that all
three III the well were suiocated.
As the news OF the disaster speedily circulated
IN the noghborhood large crowd gathered
around the fatal spot During the excitement which
followed various the plans proposed for the
covery OF the bodies while lie might possibly be
naming some running for doctor and others
essaying the almost impossible task OF digging away
the side of the well, which sunk on somewhat
it would have taken several hours reach
the bottom OF the VOL, the attempt
relatives OF The Donovans were affecting in the
tremc but one dared descend to the rescue feeling
that to do wou be TO court certain DEATH For the
purpose OF testing the atmosphere OF the well lighted
candle was lowered INTO IL and was extnguished at
depth OF about twelve feet IRON the surface This
peale like result when bucketfu of ignited
shavngs let down, blaze going before half
the depth had been reached BY this timo
fully an hour had elapsed since the Don
went down into the well. and all hopes
OF getting them out alive had been -iven up. couple
OF blankets were then brought into requistlon, and
these beng attached 10 ropes, were lowered and then
drawn up rapidly, with the object Of dspelllng
pumping out" the poisonous gases from the WE'LL
This process continued until after several trials
with lgnted candle, which ultimately continued 10
burn at the bottom OF the well when OF the neigh
bors, J. +. Loy volunteered TO descend and tastcn
rope to the bodies After this had been done and
the TWO elder Donovans brought to the surface 10y
became sick and had to be hauled up, when
other party descended and affixed rope to the
naming body 1t is almost needless to say that AZ
three gave evidence OF having died almost
after inhang the poisonous gases which rer.nested
scendcd AS the two eldest Donovans were
constantly engaged at digging wells the wonder
is that they should have been SO iuprudent
to descend into the fatal excavatop without
having first asccrtancd that the atmosphere therein
would support life. Al the inquest heid by Coroner
Young DR.. n. f. Curtis testified that no bad examined
the bodies, and that death had been caused by as
ply xa, occasoned by carbonic oxide gas To qucs-
ton by OF the jurors the Doctor said death in each
had ensued in few minutes. Another member
OF the jury after giving his testimony, volunteered the
opinon that as II apparent TImolhy Donovan and
his sou worked the whole OF Tuesday without
any noxious inhalations he believed that
the deadly vapors which caused their death were gen.
during the night by the smoke OF the shavings
which they had lighted on the previous evening, and
the causes and effects gases generally wnen he
raped TO order by the Coroner.
verd CT OF death from asphyxia was rendered Timo-
thy Donovan and his brother Cornelius were laborers
and regarded as peaceabie, Industrious men. Both OF
them leave families