Tippecanoe City Herald
January 27, 1870
SHROYER, JACOB - A Man Buried Alive - A distressing casualty occurred near New Carlisle, Clarke County, on Thursday evening last, by which Mr. Jacob Shroyer lost his life. The facts in this case, as related to us, are substantially as follows: Mr. Shroyer had dug a well on his premises, and was engaged in walling it up. To prevent the gravelly soil from caving in two sections of curbing was arranged. The well was about 30 feet deep, and Mr. S. was some twenty feet from the top pressing down the lower section of curbing. It is supposed that he noticed the danger and gave the signal to be drawn up, but a hook on the apparatus, became disarranged and before it could be made to work the sides of the well caved in burying Mr. Shroyer some five feet under the earth and debris of the curbing. Assistance was immediately sent for, and although vigorous efforts were made it was some hours before anything like success in extricating the man from his perilous situation seemed probable. At eleven o'clock at night it was thought he could be saved, as the earth was by that time pretty well removed, and he was found to be alive, but suffering very much from the pressure--the timbers of the curbing having acted as a barrier for his head. Mr. Shroyer talked to the working party, begging them to make haste as he could not stand it much longer. While removing some of the timbers a second cave occurred, this time burying the unfortunate man completely, and, as is supposed, killing him instantly. The great depth of the well and nature of the soil operated greatly to retard the progress of the work, and although every possible effort was made it was not until about noon on Friday that the body could be recovered. The deceased leaves a wife and six children to mourn his terrible fate.
Since the above was in type, we received the following from a resident of the neighborhood where the sad affair occurred:
One of the saddest accidents that has occurred in Bethel Township, happened on Thursday evening last, at four o'clock. Mr. Jacob Shroyer, aged about thirty-five years, while digging a well at his residence, about three-fourths of a mile north of Brown's Mills, was covered by the gravel falling in from above to the depth of nine feet. Every possible assistance was rendered that could be under the circumstances. Men from all parts of the country, most of whom were willing to work on top of ground. To work in the well was extremely dangerous, as the gravel kept falling in. A curb was constructed and placed in the well; two men were found who were willing to work to save the poor man's life. We worked till eleven o'clock, when we came within reach of his head. He exclaimed "God bless you, boys, save my life; I can see the light once more!" Just as the last words escaped his lips the gravel came down again, and before we could get to him the glimmering spark had fled, and he was numbered with the dead. We worked till two o'clock, when it became so extremely dangerous that the digging was abandoned until morning. A new curb was made on Friday morning, and after working for several hours we managed to get the rope around his body, then by the assistance of the windlass and several small ropes he was extricated. Your informant knows little of his character, save that he was an honest and peaceable man. He leaves a wife and six small children to mourn his loss. V. S. D.
Miami Union
January 29, 1870
SHROYER, JACOB, JR. - Accident near New Carlisle, Bethel Tp. Jan. 22, 1870. J. W. Defrees Esq.--Sir: I propose to give you a short narrative of one of the most shocking and fatal accidents that has ever occurred in this section of the county, which resulted in the death of Jacob Shroyer, Jr. The circumstances are these: Mr. Shroyer was engaged in digging a well upon a lot recently purchased by him, near the Mill of John Brown, and had reached the depth of some thirty feet. While he was adjusting the curbing (the lower section) the earth seemed to give way, when he gave the signal to be raised up. In his ascent, the hook attached to the bucket caught, when the whole earth around seemed to give away completely burying him some twenty feet deep. Mr. Anderson, who was assisting, immediately gave the alarm, the neighbors were called in and a large number of the citizens of New Carlisle came to lend their aid and sympathy. This occurred about 4 o'clock in the evening. Work was immediately begun to rescue the unfortunate man; and at 11 o'clock in the night he was reached and found to be living. When the earth was removed from his head, he was able to communicate with those engaged in extricating him. Hopes were then entertained that he would be saved; but while he yet was speaking the earth again gave way and he was in a few moments suffocated. At a late hour at night it was found necessary that some precaution should be taken to avoid any further accident. New curbing had to be made which required some time but all the neighbors and citizens took hold with a will and at day-light the excavation again commenced at a 1 o'clock p.m. the body was reached. The body was found to be standing erect, a rope was adjusted about the body, and it was drawn from the pit. He was found to be very much bruised. The unfortunate man leaves a wife and five small children. There are several gentlemen who should have special notice for their services on the occasion, Mr. William Drnett,, Lyman Solomon, Van Deaton, &c., Messrs. Brown, Armstong and Sayler, passed around the crowd and a large amount of money was raised for the bereaved family. J. C. M.
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