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A HORRIBLE FATE
The Current Wave
Dec. 17, 1884

It is with much regret that we recount the sudden death of Samuel Whitmarsh, son of A. Whitmarsh of Mahan's Creek, this county.
Young Whitmarsh, in company with the Jim Hill boys, was on a hunt about four miles above Jim Hill farm on Jack's Fork, last Wednesday, the 10th inst., and in their pursuit of game it was found necessary to fell a tree across the river to serve as a foot log. Whitmarsh was wielding the axe, when the tree gave a lurch, swung around and fell upon the victim, pinioning him to the earth. The Hill boys were near at hand when the calamity befell their companion, and after much difficulty, succeeded in cutting the trunk of the tree in twain and removing it from his crushed body. He died in about an hour after being extricated.
Samuel Whitmarsh was about 17 years of age. He leaves a large number of friends to lament his terrible death.

LATER
From Alex Hill we learn additional facts concerning Whitmarsh's death. No one was with the deceased but Dee Hill, who was setting a trap in the river's edge when the tree fell. Dee had offered to chop down the tree, but Whitmarsh said that he could cut it down himself 'if it took all day'. The tree broke off several feet above the butt. Whitmarsh lived about three hours after being injured. Dee stayed with him in the woods until he died, then laid him out as best he could and hastened to Dabner Lynch's, over a mile distant, for help. He was accompanied back by Dabner and others, who sat up with the corpse in the woods all night in the rain. Next day the remains were taken to Dabner's and from there to the home of the grief-stricken parents on Mahan's Creek. The ribs were broken loose from the backbone and the body otherwise uninjured. He was conscious much of the time, but talked very little, and seemed to crave water. Death came peacefully to him, like one sinking into a profound sleep. The funeral sermon was preached by George Martz, at the schoolhouse on Mahan's Creek.

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