JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<a href="#" onclick="clearTimeout(rotate); loadThumb(3);">Load thumb 3</a>

JavaScript

var rotate;
var delay = 1000;

function loadThumb(thumb) {
    alert("loading thumb: " + thumb);
    rotate = setTimeout(function() {
        loadThumb(thumb + 1);
    }, delay);
}