Tragic Death of Conly Turner
1914
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| Conly Turner |
Note: Conly Turner is Pat’s uncle — the older brother of these four. The following is a newspaper story about the accident near Wellington, KS.
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Conly Turner Met Death in Pit Silo 1914
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| Conley Turner and Family |
Woman and Boy Overcome by Fumes
Boy Fell Into Silo. Mail Carrier Syers Risks Life to Recover the Bodies
A double tragedy occurred at the farm of U. G Mercer, two miles southwest of Wellington, Saturday afternoon when Miss Sadie Kelly, aged 85 and Conley Turner, aged 21 were killed in a silo which they were helping to clean. It was a pit, or an underground silo, and was being prepared for the new ensilage.
Miss Kelly, who had been an employee of Mr. Mercer for ten years, and Turner, a neighbor boy, were assisting Mercer to clean the silo. They had been bringing out the water and juices from the pit by the means of a bucket pulled up by a horse. The pit was 26 feet deep. when the water got too low for the bucket to dip, someone had to go down to fill the bucket. Miss Kelly offered to go down, and after being lowered, she filled the bucket several times. Suddenly she cried, “Mr. Mercer, haul me out quick.” The Turner boy stepped over the pit and looked down, evidently to see what the trouble was, and the next instant plunged forward head first. After he struck bottom he uttered a few feeble cries for “help."
Whether he was overcome by the fumes or accidentally fell it will never be known. Mr. Mercer, who then was alone on the surface, called to Mrs. Mercer at the house to phone for help.
A small boy and a one-armed man came along within a few minutes but neither would go down in the pit. Dr. Downing was the next to arrive, followed shortly by C. M. Syers rural carrier on route six. The Mercer home was the last place served by his route, and seeing from a distance that something was wrong, he hurried forward. Mr. Syers did not hesitate to offer his services in an effort to rescue the victims of the pit. He was warned that the fumes were deadly, both the woman and the boy were probably dead, but he said he was ready to go down.
Tying a rope under his arms he was lowered. He picked up the widow but was forced to drop her. Sayers was brought out, weak and fainting, but was brave enough to take another attempt. This time he was tied in the bucket, and given the rope with a loop in it. He placed the rope around the woman both were drawn out. Sayers was nearly overcome with the fumes, and it was necessary to let him revive somewhat before going down after the boy. After a short rest he went down and brought up the boy.
By this time the city pulmotor had arrived in charge of Fire Chief Sunderland. The victims had been in the pit about 45 minutes, and efforts at resuscitation were unavailing.
There was water and juice in the bottom of the pit to the depth of about 18 inches. Miss Kelly was first overcome with the fumes from the ensilage and then drowned in the water. It is believed the boy fell because he was overcome by the fumes, as there was a strong odor of gas coming from the top of the silo. Mill Kelly was able to work in the pit for a while, so the theory is she had stirred up some ensilage that released a pocket of carbon gas which not infrequently forms in such places.
The body of Miss Kelly was shipped to Concordia, Sunday night where her relatives live. She had been working for the Mercers for 10 years. Conley Turner was the son of J. I. Turner, who lives a half mile south of Mercer. His funeral was held this afternoon at the Baptist church of this city. (He was laid to rest at Prairie Lawn Cemetery.)
On every hand are heard praises and commendations of Carrier Syers, who was courageous enough to risk his own life in an effort to save others.
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