The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

PHILADELPHIA, August 30.

The following is a very circumstantial Account of the Death of Several Persons going into a Well: a striking instance of the uncertainty of human life, in an affecting narrative of the sudden deaths of Mr. Robert Stewart, of that township, and his three sons, Joseph, John, & Benjamin, which happened after the following surprising manner, viz. Mr. R. Stewart having a well, near his house, about 30 feet deep, that in summer was usually dry; he employed a well digger, on Saturday the 22d ult. to sink it deeper, who after working in it some time, told his employer it was so damp and unwholesome that he could not continue the work. Upon this a fire was kindled at the bottom, in order to prepare it for another trial on monday. Whether this fire continued burning appears uncertain. But on Monday morning about nine Mr. Stewart, accompanied by several of his children, sons and daughters, went to the well, when Joseph a young lad, was sent down (by a ladder) to see if the fire was perfectly extinguished. The unhappy youth had scarcely reached the bottom before he was struck motionless by a noxious vapor, and as it was imagined by those above that he had fallen by a misstep, John went immediately to his assistance. and taking his then lifeless body in his arms, in order to carry him up, he was himself struck in like manner. and had not the power to save either his brother or himself. The father thinking that Joseph-was hurt by a fall and that John was unable to get him up, went hastily down to them, and taking hold of the former then clasped in the arms of the latter, he was likewise instantaneously affected; and, in a short space, they all fell dead together. Benjamin, (who with his sisters above, was beholding the distressful scene, and judging the true cause) in his anxiety of mind, resolved to go to the relief of his unfortunate father and brothers. His filial and fraternal affection were so great, that no entreaties could swerve him from his purpose. He told his mother and sisters that he would take a bottle of camphire, which was given him, to make use of as occasion should require, and that the moment he felt any thing unusual from the place, he would leave it. The unfortunate young man descended, and soon met with the same deplorable fate. The neighbours were by this time assembled ; and two, who arrived first, attempted to go down, with ropes tied round their bodies, but they were quickly obliged to return for the preservation of their lives. Mr. Benjamin Snodgrass, a brother-in-law to Mr. Stewart, senior, fixing a rope round his body, also went down, where he tried to disengage the well rope from under the dead bodies, but being unable to do it, he took a knife from his pocket and cut it ; and as he was about to fix it round one of the bodies, he gave a signal to be drawn up, being then on the verge of death ; and it was with great difficulty his life was saved. To render this man's preservation the more extraordinary, it seems, that within a few feet of the mouth of the well, the rope slipped from his body, and he was held for some time by his arms. So that it may with propriety be said, that "his life hung suspended by a thread."- After this the well-digger went down, but he had hardly fixed the rope round Benjamin, before he was perceived to catch at the ladder, whereupon he was drawn up, almost dead : The father and his three sons were, however, soon taken up, and all possible means were used to revive them, but in vain. The shaft of death was sped ! and they were all interred the next day, in one grave, near Nottingham Meeting-house. Mr. Stewart has left, besides his wife, one son and five daughters to lament the fatal catastrophe, --He was about 50 years of age, John 24, Benjamin 21, and Joseph between 13 and 14.