Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1886-04-07
A TERRIBLE, ACCIDENT.

The first death in this -ncighborhood
from violent cause, has happeued, an@
it is sad one. :, -"
Last Wednesday morning, March 81,
at 8 o'clock, Mr.. W. D. Prounier met Il
frightful death, on section 80, township
1874, range n. The particulars arc about
as follows:
On the morning in question Danic.
Procunier went to the claim of Henry
Chapman to assist in digging well,
They had been at work the previous day
and at depth Of seventy feet had no.
ticcd no indication of foul air, and henc,
took no measures to ascertain whether
che we'll was clear. AS Mr.. Procunicr
was descending he was heard to say some
thing. but was not understood by those
at the windlass. After touching the
bottom he waited a minute and then
asked TO be drawn up.
Henry Chapman and Charlie Procunier
began drawing him up, and when abou,
tifty-tive feet from the bottom he was
observed to let 20 the rope and drop ou,
OF the bucket, his foot catching on til,
rope. For an instant he hung in this
manner. and then, his foot becoming dc
tAched ne fell headfOremOst to the bot
tom Of the well.
The alarm was quickly given, and Levi
Chapman desccnded; but. feeling the
overpowering effect Of the foul gas, asked
to be drawn up. A rope had been tied
around each leg and under his arms Be
fore reaching the surface it is said he
became unconscious, the rope under his
arms came loose, and he was drawn GU,
of the we'll by his feet.
A more general alarm was then given,
and number of neighbors assembled
Mr.. Ed Hodgkinson attempted the de-
scent, but only succeeded in getting half
way down. Some bedding was then tied
to q rope and repeatedly drawn up and
down to dispel the 'sdamps." A CAT was
next let down and left there as long as
rope to the body of man. The cat be-
ing alive when drawn up, Mr.. Fred
Hodgkinson descended, made rope fast
to Mr.. Procunier, and was safely elevated,
although nearly overcome by the foul air.
MI. PrOcunier was dead. An eXmina-
ton of the body showed that the neck
was broken. one leg broken in two
places, an arm broken, and the face badly
bruised. 1t is said that Mr.. Procunicr
was heard to gr0an after he struck the
bottom of the we'll.
The funeral services took place last
Sabbath at the residence of Mr. Levi
Chapman, a brolhcr-in-law of deceased.
Notwithstanding the impossiblity of cir
culating information to all parts of the
surrounding country, there was large
and svmpathizing assemblage present to
pay the last sad tribute to the memory of
an honored citizen, tender husband,
and an indulgent father The funeral
services were conducted by Mr.. Worst,
and ut about o'clock all that remained d
on earth OF poor Dan Procunier was laid
to rest, encased in beautiful coffin, ON
the claim which he had selected as a home
for himself and for his loved ones.
| Mr.. Procunier was man who, during
the short time since he came to live
among us, had made friends of all who
knew HIM. He leaves wife and four
children, to whom the sympathy of all
is extended IN this their heartrending be-
reavement. 'Tis sad thing TO see man
in the prime of life stricken to death in
an instant, and this appalling acciden,
has cast deep gloom over the whole
community.