Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-08-31
ARNOLD CLAFl|N
IS SUMMONED
Was From Among the Well Known
and Much Respected old Set
tiers Of Hamilton
County.
SERVED IN THE CIVIL WAR,
Died in This City at DR.. Conrad
Home, Where he had Been TAX
en- for Treatment.

Arnold ClaHlI, IOf many years d
resident of Independence township,
six miles south of town, one of the
best known and greatly respected
old settlers of Hamilton county, pass
ed away Sunday forenoon at $3.50
o'clock at the home of Dr.Belle Con-
rad, where he had been taken for
treatment. Heart trouble caused his
death. The deceased would have
been 70 years old in October, having
been born in New York state Oct.
ITO, 1880. He served in the Civil
war and after the war went to Chi
Icago where he resided one year. He
then came to Independence township
from Chicago and has lived there
since. Mr.. Clafin never married.
He lived with the family of his
brother, E. E. Claiin, the two own
ling the farm on which they lived.
Three brothers-George of Jewell,
Nathan and e. E. Claflin, living
south of town, and two sisters, the
whereabouts of whom is not known,
are the only surviving relatives.
The funeral services will be held
this afternoon at one o'clock
from the Methodist church in this
city, Rev. c. H. Kamphoefner officiat-
ing. The services will be under the
Auspices of the G. A. r. and inter-
ment will be made in Graceland
cemetery.
Mr.. Claf1in was about thirty-one
years ago the victim of an accident
by which he almost lost his life. He
lay between life and death for weeks
Following the accident which was of
la peculiar nature. He had been en-
gagged in mining coal along the
Boone river for several years and at
the time the accident occurred was
in partnership with miner named
Jerry Robbins. The mine was one
of the side hill entrance sort and the
tunnell ran back about $50 feet from
1.-THE mouth 1t was found to be so
damp that a small stove was placed
lin the chamber of the mine and a
wooden stove pipe installed. 1t was
thought to be SO damp that the pipe
could not catch fire. One day in the
spring of about 1883 or "a, the two
men entered the mine and twisting
a bunch of hay placed it in the stove
and lighted it. The fire was SO brisk
and sudden that the chimney caught
on fire. but did not blaze up. The
room became filled with smoke and
Mr.. Robbins Thought they had better
seek the outer air. The two men
ran for short distance until Mr..
Clafiin was overcome and fell After
trying vainly to drag his companion
to the outer air, Robbins gave it up
and managed to reach the mouth of
the tunnell alone. Himself almost
dead from suffocatson he reached
the Claflin home many rods distant
and gave the alarm, having erawled
part of the way, too weak to walk.
Neighbors were summoned and an
attempt made to reach Claf1ih. His
companion, Robbins, would not give
up the attempt to reach him and re-
.peatedly entered the mine dragging
the unconscious man q short dis
lance, giving out completely time af-
ter time. He almost lost his own
life in trying to rescue his compan-
ion. Finally men arrived with a
team and lines from the harness
were tied together and Robbins took
one end into the mine, succeeding in
fastening it to the wrist of Mr.. Olaf
lin. The man was then dragged to
the outer air and taken to his home.
The accident was one Of the most
exciting that happened in those days
along the river.
Post Card Shower.