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Spencer Russell, one of the oldest residents of the county, died Tuesday night at his home in Curry township. Mr. Russell was born in Spencer coun ty, Kentucky, Jan. 11, 1826, and was past 79 years of age. He had been a resident of the county for a long period of years, moving here from Kentucky with his parents when he was quite young. He was united in marriage January 15, 1858 to Mass Elizabeth Gaskins. Mr. Russell was a lifelong member of the Christian church He was the father of County Auditor E. E. Russell and Mrs. Robert Taylor, of this city, sent Wabash slowly but surely rise toward him. The feelings of one in his position can hardly be imagined. Finally, on the third day, with the water within eight inches of the boards on which he lay, the rise stopped. Yet, during this time, the weather had continued to grow colder, and Captain Smythe was in great danger of freezing to death, for he had no means of hosting his narrow quarters. Yet here, his love for animals served him in good stead, for he placed his cats on his legs and feet, and in this way managed to keep from being frozen. Dr. Durham, on whose land Capt. Smythe makes his home, was ill in bed at the time of the high waters, but as soon as he re covered, he telephoned around to his neighbors to find if they had seen the captain. Finding that they had not, he sent two boys down to the cabin, the boys walk ing on the ice, which, on the morning of the fourth day of Capt. Smythe’s forcible deten tion, was strong enough to bear their weight. When the boys came near the cabin, they saw Capt. Smythe’s head sticking out from the roof. He had punched a hole through the roof, and was enjoying the sun, which was shining brightly that morning. Capt. Smythe ac companied the boys to the home of Dr. Durham, and in a day or two, entirely recovered from the effects of his terrible experience.
Newspaper Details
Sullivan Union
Sullivan, Indiana, US
Wed, May 10, 1905
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 16 Feb 2026
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