A distressing accident occurred to W.B. (M.B.) Tidball on Monday. It seems that he and David Clark were at Bellaire boring a well. Mr. Tidball was walking behind the mule when the arm of the horse-power to which the animal was hitched broke and the broken arm was thrown back with such a force as to break both of Mr. Tidball's legs above the knees. Mr. Tidball a poor and hard-working man, and in his affliction needs the practical sympathy of the people. Drs. Cannon and Golden were called and set the broken limbs, and all that medical skill can do is being done for his relief.
Stewart's Bazoo (Smith Center, Kansas) Thursday, May 17, 1894, Page 5

M. Tidball of this county, who had the misfortune to get both legs broken by an accident with a well-boring machine almost a year ago, is still in a Kansas City hospital, with but little hope of his recovery, and it is expected he will be returned home in a short time. The bones refuse to knit at the fracture and the medical en are baffled with the case. The sympathy of the entire community goes out to Mr. Tidball and the family in the great affliction.
Smith County Journal (Smith Center, Kansas) Thursday, March 21, 1895, Page 8

Comrade Tidball who has suffered all the torments of earth during the past two years of his service here was mustered out last Thursday night. The grim mustering officer while duty should have called him here months ago, finally dropped in with his rusty old scythe and cut down this patient sufferer and took him to his reward. It was well. The funeral services were conducted from the house, Rev. J. Baay pronounced the last words of consolation to the family, and the comrade is now borne on the rolls where those who bore the most grevious cross here will wear the brighter crown.
Smith County Pioneer (Smith Center, Kansas) Thursday, October 03, 1895, Page 3