Death
in Well Gas
Albert Watkins Overcome
by Fumes
Falls 55 feet in Well of
Isaac Clifford of Windham
Our Bookton correspondent
writes:
A sad and fatal accident occurred on the farm of
Mr. Isaac Clifford
on Tuesday last at about 10.30 a.m., when his son-in-law, Albert Watkins
of Milldale, was killed by well gas.
The deceased, who carries on
a pump business at Milldale, went in company with his father-in-law
to repair a pump on his farm.
Just a few weeks previous he
had placed the pump in the well and at that time there was no
suspicion of gas, so unfortunately he descended by sliding down the
casting and in a moment asked Mr. Clifford to hand him a wrench.
When about to hand down the
wrench Mr. Clifford noticed a strange look on his son-in-law's face
and in an instant Watkins fell to the bottom, a distance of 55 feet.
Mr. Clifford, who is a man
about 75 years of age, gave the alarm but it was some time before
help arrived and with the aid of ice tongs the unfortunate man was
brought to the surface, but life was extinct.
The accident has cast a
gloom over the entire neighborhood and great sympathy goes out to
the sorrowing widow and four small children.
The funeral was held on
Friday last from the residence of his father-in-law, Isaac Clifford
and interment took place in Milldale.
Mr. Watkins was only 31
years of age and was held in high esteem by all who knew him.
