Moses Abraham

GEDCOM Note

CHAMBERS, BENNIE ABRAHAM, MOSES Sad and Fatal A Boy and a Negro Poisoned by Fire Damp - IN his Arms Wallisville, Tex, June 30 - A fatal and sad accident occurred at Wallisville, Chambers county, Tex, on the 25th instant. Bennie Chambers, a lad of 12 years, and Moses Abraham, colored, succumbed to the dreaded choke damp, and Robt. Scott, colored barely escaped death in attempting to save the other two. The circumstances are as follows: Bennie Chambers, a bright boy, attempted to recover a bucket from a well with a cord and hook, and not succeeding, climbed down the well which is a square structure about fourteen feet deep, with ladder steps nailed against the sides. As he descended he was overcome with the gas and fell into the water. His mother, hearing the splash and going to the well, supposed him to be drowning and called Moses Abraham and Robt. Scott to rescue the boy. Moses Abraham immediately climbed down, and as he reached the unfortunate boy, who was apparently drowned, was struck by the damp, shook like a leaf and was unable to utter a word or move as he held the head of the little boy above the water. Robert Scott attempted to save the lives of the other two, but before he could reach the unfortunate victims he was so suffocated that he was barely able to reach the top of the well and escape the fate of the other two. The brave colored man died with the boy in his arms, and upon recovering them from the well the scene was strangely appalling - there stretched side by side in death lay a delicate boy of 12 years and a brawny, muscular man of 40. The well was tested with an oil lamp, and about seven feet from the top the flame was extinguished. A fowl was lowered into the well, and upon withdrawing it remained in a lifeless condition for some time. The first years of Bennie Chambers' life was spent in Galveston at the St. Mary's convent. He was a lad of many manly qualities, and had a bright future before him. Moses Abraham was regarded as one of the most reliable colored men in Chambers county. (The Galveston Daily News, Galveston, Tex, Jul 1, 1888)