By Mike Martindale

News Staff Writer

MENOMENEE, Mich. –

Bill Hofer was the first to collapse in the dark manure pit.

Inhaling a combination of toxic gases, he quickly lost consciousness and slipped down into the pool of murky liquid in the bottom of the 12-foot hole.

Then one after another, the four men at the top of the pit scrambled in, trying first to save Hofer, and then each other, from the deadly fumes.

Within five minutes all were dead or dying in what is believed to be the worst farm accident in Michigan history

Killed yesterday along with the 63-year-old Hofer were his uncle, Carl Theuerkauf, Sr., the 65-year old patriarch of the centennial farm; two of Theuerkauf’s sons, 37-year old Carl Jr. and 28-year old Tom; and Carl Jr.’s 15-year old son, Daniel.

"I'm sure that when one person slipped or fell, out of love and for help, one after another went in," said Richard Breyer with the county farm extension service in Menominee.

Dorothy Theuerkauf, who lost a husband, two sons, and a grandson in the tragedy said:

"I can't believe something like this could happen. It will probably take me a couple of weeks before it actually sinks in."

On Thursday, investigators said the five men were using a pump to empty a partially covered, 12-foot deep concrete manure pit, and were almost finished when the pump clogged.

Hofer descended into the darkness to clear the block.

"It's unknown which one went in next, but eventually they all went in to save the rest," said Menominee County Sheriffs Deputy Booth Whipp.

County Medical Examiner Dr. Paul Haupt estimates it took about 90 seconds for each of the men to suffocate in the invisible cloud of gas, composed primarily of methane and hydrogen sulfide.

Methane in well kills three firefighters (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Thursday, May 3, 1990)

HUSTONTOWN, PA (AP) – Residents were mourning yesterday for three volunteer firefighters who died while helping a neighbor to clean out a 38-foot well and were overcome by gas. The deaths were the first in the 25-year history of the 170-member volunteer company in South Central Fulton County said Assistant Chief Robert Cover. James F. Chestnut, Jr., 20, and Richard L. Hersey, 40, both of Hustontown, and Thomas L. Lane, 39, of McConnellsburg, died Tuesday, apparently of Methane gas that had built up in the well. About two dozen other people were treated, including at least six men who inhaled some of the gas.

The firefighters went to the home of Nellie Brown on Monday to pump out her well. She had complained of the odor and suspected that an animal had fallen in and died.

The volunteers used the pump on their truck without success and returned Tuesday afternoon with a portable pump, state police said.

Lane and Larry Traxler of Hustontown entered the well with the pump and took it about halfway down the 3-foot wide shaft. Traxler became dizzy and returned to the surface, but Lane was overcome. Traxler went back for him but lost consciousness. Hersey and Traxler’s father, Clair, 41, went in, but Hersey was overcome. Others on the surface then called for additional help.

What is wrong with this article?

L.I. Landfills are bubbling with dangerous Methane

The gas, which has an odor similar to rotten eggs, reached 100% explosion level at the home, and could have been set off by the slightest spark.

Most confined space accidents are caused by failure to recognize the hazards!

NIOSH Report December 1979

65% of fatalities due to atmospheric hazards