----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 05/16/1884

Downs, Richard (? - 13 May 1884)

Richard Downs, one of the men who has been working at Sterling’s Mill (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) for the last ten days or two weeks, met with an accident Tuesday afternoon about four o’clock, which terminated fatally. The deceased, instead of going a piece around, tried to take a short cut by crossing a horizontal belt and was struck in some unknown manner and thrown five or six feet. He was picked up in an unconscious state, and it was found upon examination that he had received a severe gash in the head. Dr. McCutcheon was sent for, who dressed the wound and pronounced it a case of concussion of the brain. The man did regain sensibility from the time the accident occurred until death ensued Wednesday morning about 7:30. Deceased came here about two weeks ago and has no relatives West except an uncle at West Point, this state. His parents reside in New York. His remains were taken to Eau Claire yesterday for interment by his uncle who arrived on the morning train.