Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-11-11
"JEFF RLOAD!S rs KILLED"
The AudifOr and Recorder OF
Idaho Comfy Killed in a
RuMasc0y, Nor. 9, 1892,

Like a thunder-clap in a cloud
less sky came the tidings to town
on Wednesday afternoon about $3.50
o'clock that jeff Rhoads was dead
killed in runaway accident
while driving over from Mt. Idaho
to Grangeville. The town was full
OF people from the country waiting
for election returns, and instantly
the shocking news spread like wild
fire from mouth to mouth, and
rush was made to all the teams
and saddle horses standing hitched
to the racks, and in moment a
score of men were madly racing to
the scene of the accident intent on
rendering aid. The accident oc-
cured at the head of the Robinson
lane east of town. 1t TRANSFERRED
that poor jeff had left Mt. Idaho
in a road cart with Gov. Wards
big black horse hitchcd to it. The
animal was thoroughly broke to
work in double harness, and had
only been used in single rig few
times, but he was considered a safe
and trustworthy animal, although
somewhat high-strung. He was
q Accompanied on the road over by
A. V. Clark in his road cart and
by deputy sheriff darlington on
horseback Immediately behind. At
the bend of the lane Mr.. Talking
ton noticed that the horse was
irottihg rather crookedly and zig
tagging across the road, but was
not then running. Suddenly the
animal bolted. The start must
have thrown Jeff from his seat in
stantly, pitching him upon his
head and shoulders in the road
He was dragged eight or ten feet
His head and shoulders were prop
ped up and Mr., Talkington flew to
town with the news. DR.. Bibby
was soon on the spot, but saw in a
moment that his lungs were crush
ed in by the force of the fall, and
that he was beyond human aid.
He was breathing, but it was plain
that the end was near. He was
asked if he wanted drink of wa
ter, and answered very distinctly,
i" No" He tried to talk but his
mutterings were too indistinct to
be understood, and in few brief
minutes even these had ceased, and
his soul had entered the mystic
portals of the unknown land.
Thus untimely persisted Thomas
Jefferson Rhoads, a man whose like
we never shall see again. Many a
strong man in Idaho county felt
the tears rise unbidden to his eyes
when he first heard that j fl
Rhoads was dead. For in poor jeff
lived man who was of the salt OF
the earth. He was one of Nature's
noblemen, large of body and broad
of mind, and with d heart more ex-
pansive and sympathetic than both.
There never lived in any commu-
nifty man who embodied the vir-
tues of its people more than Jen
Rhoads did of Idaho county. He
was liberal and generous to excess
without the weakness which ac.
companies indiscriminate charity
while his keen Judgment, native
shrewdness and knowledge of hu.
man nature enabled him to detect
in an instant the impostors who at.
tempted to impose upon his sym
pathies and ever-open purse. II,
had an intense hatred of shams
false pretensions and other form.
of hypocrisy, and his faculty o
probing these masqucrader5 wa:
something wonderful. His popu
larity as an official is evidenced b,
the enormous vote given him a
every successive election. Oppo
nents were only nominated agains
him for the purpose of maintaining
party organization. Poor jeff
The tears rise to our eyes as w,
reflect upon the sterling qttalitie
of his mind and heart; of his un
bending integrity and good nature
and of the unerring good judgmen
which made him the guide, philos
opher and friend of every citizen O
the county who sought disinterest
ed advice. In his official capueit,
he was ever a wise, safe and con
servative counsellor who permitte,
no liberal construction or stretchin,
of the laws for any purpose what
soever. No influence, persuasion
or in d hceirent from whateve
source could swerve him hair
breadth from the strict line of duty
and in his administration of affair
he was as absolutely impartial II
any man could be. He held tn
warm love of many, the FRIENDSHIP
of "a host and respect of all our cit
zens. No eulogy is too extravagan
to do justice to the good qualitio
of his head and heart. and his 81
lent acts of charity will endear tn
memory of his name to many fami
lies hcreabout for Il generation t
come
The body was immediately con
Keyed to Mt. Idaho for burial. Al
thp frat ont hrt,.ct Of or,.iaf baI an l.