Neighbor Tries to Rescue Man, But Both End Up Dead, Sept. 17, 1925

Foul Gas Killed Union County Man

Part of the first sentence is missing from the newspaper article. It begins as follows: Thomas, 31, both white men, were asphyxiated by foul gas in the bottom of a well Terry was digging on the farm of Wiley Green in Buford township, Union county, last Wednesday.

Thomas, a neighbor, had gone into the well to help out Terry, who became sick from the gas, and had climbed up the ladder and almost reached the top when he fell back into the water. Both died before they could be brought to the top.

Terry had put in a charge of dynamite Monday in order to blast thru the rock struck when the well had been sunk about 20 feet. He used wheat straw and kerosene rags in trying to set off the charge, but had failed. He had left the well, going back after he thought there would be no danger of an explosion. The straw and oiled rags were thought to have assisted in forming the foul gas.

Terry went down and was engaged in getting out water that had risen in the well in order to continue his digging and blasting. Mr. Green, the owner of the property, drawing the water out from the top. Terry told Mr. Green that he was suffocating, the latter giving the alarm. Mr. Thomas, living a quarter of a mile way, rode to the site of the well on his mule, in response to the call, and went down into the well to assist Terry.

A rope was tied around the suffocating man, and was not sufficiently secured to draw him up. Hurrying out of the well, Thomas had almost reached the top of the ladder when, probably himself weakened by the gas, he lost his hold, falling back the 20 feet on Terry.

Terry was mashed down into the several inches of water by the impact, probably becoming strangled. Both died before additional help could be brought to the well. A negro later went into the well and tied a rope around Thomas’ body and brought it out. Another man was let down by rope, tied the rope around Terry’s body, and it was pulled out.

The county physician examined the bodies, expressing the belief that both were suffocated by the foul gas.

Thomas leaves a wife and three children, while Terry also leaves a wife and several children.

From the front page of The Mooresville Enterprise, Thursday, September 17, 1925

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn93064798/1925-09-17/ed-1/seq-1/