HORROR – When 20 Northeast Missouri Kids Nearly Drowned in a Well

If you grew up in northeast Missouri, you have no doubt been told some stories about incredible events that have happened in this part of the state. However, I'm guessing few have heard the tale of how 20 northeast Missouri kids nearly drowned in a well. It's tragic, but also miraculous at the same time.

I don't even recall how I came across this Marion County Missouri genealogy site, but it documents some disasters that have happened in the region. Among those stories is a retelling of what happened in Palmyra, Missouri on April 6, 1888. Here is the short version.

That day began in Palmyra as 40 school kids were celebrating Arbor or Tree Planting Day. They were planning to dig out trees from a grove and replant them at their school. 20 kids wandered off from the rest and went to play by a well. What they didn't know is the planks around the well were rotten.

What happened next was terrifying. According to the history shared on the site, the ground gave way underneath all 20 of the kids near the well and they fell to the bottom. They all plummeted 20 feet into 3 feet of water at the bottom of the well. 

The teacher reportedly sought out rescuers who pulled children out of the well as quickly as they could, but for 2 kids, it would be too late as they drowned. The kids names were Arthur Little and May Dolan. 7 other kids were seriously injured and 3 were not expected to survive at the time. 

While this was a tragic accident, I find it miraculous that more didn't lose their lives. What should have been a fun out of school outing to plant trees became something else entirely. Even 137 years later, it's a terrifying thought for a parent to imagine and it was a real tragedy for many northeast Missouri families in that era.