The Republican journal., 1876-08-24
Suifocated in an Old Well.

The shriells OF q woman aroused the in
habtants Of a little settlement in Green
burgh, near White Plains. Westchester
County, New lorG, before six O'Clock
Wednesday morning, and in II short time
the frame cottage which was known as
Timothy Donovln's home was surrounded
by excited men and women. They soon
learned that Mr. Donovan, his son aged
fifteen, and his brother were dead in the
well in the rear of the house
The well was dry. 1t was twenty seven
feet deep, and two feet six inches in di-
amcter at the mouth, and the bottom
something over three feet in diameter.
Timothy Donovan was a laborer, and fire.
quently, within the past few years, had
constructed and cleaned wells. He was
obstinate and daring, and it is said of him
that an employer once paid him $40 to
relinqulsh his work on a well, as the en-
ployer was satisfied that Donayan was too
reckless, and would in all probability
meet his death before finishing the job.
On Tuesday he decided that his own
well was too small and that he would en-
large it and put it in use. lie prepared Il
blast, but discovered that he could not 10
mite it. He lowered lighted shavings, and
the foul air of the well eXtinguished the
flames when about six feet below the sur
face. Wednesday morning he aroused his
son Cornelius at 5 O'Clock, and they start
ed to find what the trouble was with the
well. "A rope with an attached chain was
lowered and made fast at the top The
boy clutched the rope and started to de-
scend into the well. When he had gone
about fifteen feet the unbearable gases SUI
located him and he fell to the bottom of
the well, dead. The father wildly shouted.
and ran to the house of his brother, Cor
nelius Donovan. Jr, across the way. Cor
nelius was in bed, but he hurriedly clothed
himself and ran toward the we'll
When he entered the yard he saw Tim
othy descending the rope, and when he
reached the curb and looked into the we'll
he saw Timothy drop dead to the bottom.
Cornelius recklessiy seized the rope and
swung below. Almost instantly he was
PROSTATE and swung across the bodies of
his brother and his nephew. Timothy's
housekeeper gave the alarm by screaming
so loud that she was heard third of a
mile. and Mr.. Harmon, who lives close
by. fastened to the place, followed by his
wife, who, the instant she saw him about
to go into the well, clutched his clothing
and hurled him backward on the ground.
Frederick kioler, an express agent, and
an expert swimmer, thought that the vic
tins had been drowned, and he started
down the rope, but when he saw the faces
of the upturned dead, and knew that there
was no water, he returned. At length
brave, strong men went to work and the
bodies We're recovered with iron grapples.
Coroner Young Of Chappaqua held the in
quest.
Timothy Donovan was a widower; he
leaves four small children, the youngest
being but five months old Cornelius, the
brother, was married and had one child
''Dld she not return your love ?" inquired
a sympathizing friend ola young man who
intimated that he had had some difficulty
with his sweetheart. YES, she returned
it, and that is exactly what the trouble is.
She said she didn't want it'