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Last Monday Joseph Sporrer, re siding on section 11, owned by Mr. Heffler, near Granville, was hauling sand for building purposes. He had hauled several loads, and was ac companied by his little six year old son and his Newfoundland dog. The third trip he had only thrown a few shovels full upon the wagon, when the bank, which tow ered full fifteen feet above him, caved in, completely burying’ him from sight. ‘The little boy ran home and partially informed his mother what was the matter. They started back for the gravel pit, when Henry and Peter Goebel of this place, who chanced to be passing, saw the woman and some men running in direction of the sand pit, and netic ing the team standing,unattended, guessed that something was wrong and hastily drove there. John Bul berg and Henry Minton also hurried to the scene. They arrived at the same time the other party did and was horrified to see the top of a man’s head sticking from the sand, the dog having scratched the sand away from the unfortunate man. It was but a few seconds until the men had clawed the sand away from Sporrer’s face and mouth, but it was too late. Although warm, the breath of life had fled and Joseph, Sporrer was a dead man. A gang of threshers were working within a few rods of the sand pit and noticing the rescuers trying to dig the unfortunate man from his tomb of sand, hurried to the scene and with their wasted efforts the dead man was almost entirely re moved, when Mrs. Sporrer, rushed towards her husband. But with opened arms and a cry of anguish on her lips, the poor woman fainted and fell at her husband’s feet. She was taken back home in an uncon scious condition, along with the corpse , of her husband, and with six little children crying around their apparently lifeless forms, the sight was enough to melt a heart of atone. Mrs. Sporrer expects to become a mother in a few days, and the blow was such that many have fears for her ultimate recovery. The sight of the poor unfortunate husband as he was dug from the sand ‘was said to have been awful. The skin about his eyes was broken and had turned black and the sand could hardly be brushed from his face. He was standing ‘erect, with one hand grasping the shovel while the other was raised over his breast; as if to ward off a blow. His face was turned’heavenwards as if the sand had imprisoned his legs ‘and then slowly slid over his body inch by inch covering up his head and he had raised his face to Heaven as if in prayer and in hopes that the sand would not entirely cover his mouth and kill him. The dog has dug away. fully a foot of the sand from over the man, before help arrived, and it was with a difficulty that he could be kept back while the men were exhuming the corpse. Mr. Sporrer was poor, but ‘as honest, straightforward and hardworking a man as lived in the country. His wife and six chil dren are left helpless without any means of support. The whole com munity is in sorrow over the terrible accident. Goebel Henkels for Groceries. Goebel Henkels for Dry Goods. Goebel Henkels for Cloaks. Goebel Henkels for Underwear. Goebel Henkels for Gloves and Mitts. Goebel Henkels for Boots and Shoes. Goebel Henkels for anything, everything and for everybody. They have the biggest and best stock ever shown in Alton and in Sioux coun ty, without doubt or question. They have anything you want, no matter what and at such low prices it will stagger you. They can compete with any house on earth, as regards goods and low prices. They do it, because they have the biggest trade of any house in town and that proves all the above. Every man, woman and child within twenty miles of Alton ought to come and inspect their gi gantic stock, and see how much money they can save on goods, . Lif Horses blankets and buggy robes going at less than cost at Jerome Fisher Co.’s, Orange City, Ia, 16tf
Newspaper Details
Alton Democrat
Alton, Iowa, US
Sat, Oct 13, 1888
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Julie S.
USA 24 Jan 2026
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