[According to the death records, this boy did not die until February 26th]
Frightful Fall.
A frightful accident happened at the court house Saturday afternoon, at about 4 o'clock. A young boy aged 12 years, a son of Mr. A. F. Rafferty, a farmer of this township, in company with another little companion had sneaked their way up into the cupola, the door being left open by older parties who had the permission of the Janitor to ascend to the tower. The boys while in the tower commenced playing and running around, and in their innocent sport young Rafferty climbed over some slats across a door which led into a compartment immediately over the glass ceiling of the rotunda, and of course so soon as his feet struck the glass he went through and was precipitated to the marble floor below, a distance of 39 feet. He thought the colored lights were solid like the floor below, not knowing they were thin glass. He came down feet foremost, narrowly escaping falling upon parties on the floor of the rotunda and standing at the head of the stairs. His legs were horribly mashed, both being broken in several places, the bones protruding from the skin. A piece of bone from the leg over two inches long was picked up from the rotunda floor alter the accident. The little fellow was conveyed to the Commissioner's room where be was made as comfortable as possible with bedding furnished by Janitor Cowdrick, and Drs. Shoemaker and Maerker called. An examination of the bruised limbs was made and it was found that but little could be done then for them, and little hopes were entertained of the recovery of the boy. He was conveyed upon a litter to the house of his father on Sabbath morning, and at last accounts was reported as getting along as well as could be expected, with slight hopes of his living and the saving of his limbs. The fall was a frightful one, and the wonder is that the boy was not killed outright. No blame can attach to the Janitor, only it might be well if the door was closed up entirely.