OBIT: Theodore McFARLAND, 1887, Huntingdon, Huntingdon County, PA

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A Sad Death.

  Mr. Theodore McFarland, of this city, lost his life on Saturday 
between ten and eleven o'clock A.M., by being overcome by foul air in 
the well on the premises of Mr. David Rohm.  Mr. Rohm had employed 
Theodore McFarland and James Hicks to clean out his well, which is 
thirty-six feet in depth and contained at the time of the accident 
about five feet of water.  When everything was in readiness McFarland 
was lowered to the bottom by means of a rope, taking down with him a 
stool which he placed on the bottom and then stood upon it.  As soon as 
he was properly fixed he shouted back that "he was all right," when 
Hicks made arrangement to go down also, but he had not been lowered 
nearly half-way before he began to feel the effects of the noxious gas 
and requested to be pulled to the surface.  In a minute or more 
McFarland was overcome by the gas and fell headforemost into the water, 
dead.  As soon as possible his body was recovered, but the vital spark 
had fled and the poor fellow was beyond human aid.
  Theodore McFarland has been a resident of this city from infancy and 
had many friends and acquaintances who will sorrow at his tragic death.  
During the war he was a member of the gallant 49th Regiment, and his 
surviving comrades tell us that a braver soldier never faced the enemy.  
He was aged about 51 years, and leaves three motherless children to the 
cold charities of the world.  His remains were interred at 6 o'clock 
Sunday evening and were followed to their final resting place in the 
City of the Silent by a large concourse of citizens and members of 
George Simpson Post No. 44, G.A.R., under whose management the funeral 
was conducted.  Poor "Dory," you bravely fought life's battle, and let 
us hope 'tis well with thee.

The Huntingdon Journal, Huntingdon, Pa., Friday, August 5, 1887