Aberdeen Weekly News Thursday, Oct 25, 1900
[Henry C. Struck, 1861-20 October 1900, Riverside Memorial Park — Findagrave.com]
Henry C. Struck, a well known farmer living five miles northwest of Westport, lost his life from the poisonous gas known as fire damp in a well into which he had gone for the purpose of cleaning it out. His assistants were lowering him into the well, and he had reached within a few feet of the bottom when he called those above to pull him to the surface again because of the presence of the gas.
The men began pulling him up and had him near the top when he appeared to become unconscious and loosening his hold on the rope he fell into the bottom. He was rescued as quickly as possible, but life was extinct when the body reached the air again. Efforts were made to resuscitate him, but without effect. Coroner Miller was notified, and he decided that no inquest was necessary.
~Transcribed by volunteer researcher, Kathy Smith