The New Hampshire Gazette

Mr. PRINTER.

Taunton, August 1761.

By inserting the following you will, no Doubt, gratify your Readers, and oblige the Publick.

Yours, &c. L. Z.

WHERE happened here on the 7th instant a surprizing Instance of Mortality: One Mr. James Walker having digged a Well about 22 Feet deep, and by Reason of the Drought the Water failed in the Well, and he was digging it deeper, was opposed by a Rock, and in order to soften which he made a small Fire in the Morning, and about 12 o'Clock the Fire being gone out, he went down into the Well, to see what Operation the Fire had upon the Rock. being got to the Bottom he said he smelt no Smoke, but his Eyes seemed to smart, and immediately he attempted to come up, having ascended 7 or 8 Feet, he fell seemed like one stunned; whereupon a young Man went down to his Assistance, and immediately took him in his Arms, in order to bring him up, and he seemed to swoon away, and fell with him; whereupon another young Man went to their Relief, who suffered the like Fate. Now, there being three Men in the Well, and the Neighbourhood being alarmed, the Question was who would risque his Life to assist his Neighbour? A Negro Man soon consented, and a Rope being made fast to him, he went down and made it fast to the two young Men who were immediately drawn up, the Negro then failed himself, and was drawn up. A young Lad instantly went down, and made fast the Rope to Walker, who was drawn up without any Symptoms of Life, except a Gasp for Breath. Both the young Men were alive, tho' much disordered in their Lungs, and there was a general Stagnation of the Blood in the capillary Blood Vessels, and a Subultus Tendinum.

Upon some Questions that arose what should be the Reason of this deadly Quality in the Well, and several Experiments being try'd, it was found four Days after the above Date, it would extinguish the Blaze of a Candle when let down two Fathom from the Top of the Well; that a Chicken, a Cat, and other Animals, like one stunned, would fall down, and lose all Motion, except a faint Beating of the Heart and Arteries, which, if the Animals were left longer, would cease too. When the Animals were taken out, after lying two or three Minutes, their Limbs would be stiffened, and great Subultus Tendinum, and once in a While a Gasp for Breath; but if thrown immediately into cold water, they would presently revive.

N. B. One of the aforementioned young Men is since blind, and his Life is much despair'd of.

It is hoped the Curious will give the Publick their Opinion relative to the Nature of this Vapour.

May it not be supposed, the Vapour that arose from the Well at Taunton, by which the Gentleman lost his Life, might be occasioned by Matter contain'd in some Cavern or subterraneous Vault under the Well of a Copper like Nature, or some other more poisonous Quality; from whence such Steams or Stench might arise, sufficient to make the Air unfit for Respiration, and So stop the Breath: or by the vicious Particles entering into the Blood, contaminate or spoil the Same, in an intire Change of the natural globulous Forms or Figures thereof, so as to render them full of Points or Angles, occasioning a sudden Mortification and Death? This only for a Hint to the more ingenious and Learned.

Portsmouth, Aug. 27. 1761.