Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-11-24
4p the MalIS.
NEW-YoRK, EoY. 90.

| RcmGTkd0te FTeSefUuLaOn.-A wonder
full instance Of the preservation of hu-
man life, when in imminent danger, oc.
CURED at Geneva in this State on the
22d ult. Mr.. James Gerry, an Irishmau,
had descended well for the purpose Of
removing some distractions. The we'll
was 81 feet deep, and some of the
stones in the walls near the bottom had
been loosened by the washing of quick
sands. Having descended between 40
and so feet, as he was standing with one
foot in the bucket and the other resting
upon the side Of the wall, on sudden,
the stones below gave way and closed
together, and the whole mass of the
walls above sunk down upon him and
buried him beneath the ruins.
The shock, says the Geneva Gazette,
produced by such disaster can be i'm
agined, but not described. A groan is
sued from beneath the stones and earth,
which proved that life was not extinct,
and inspired feeble hope of extricating
the unfortunate man alive! Hundreds
Immediately collected around the spot,
in painful solicitude, all anxious to bear
part in rescuing fellow mortal from so
terrible grave! The most prompt and
active exertions were made to excavate
as soon as possible the stones and earth
that had fallen in. 1t was half past
O'Clock, P. M. when the catastrophe
happeped. Ii Is minutes a windlass
and bucket were procured and put in
operation. No less than 80 ton of stone
were to be dawn up, before relief
could be given. But few could labour
at time-and though they proceeded
with the utmost activity, the removing
of so great a quantity of stones. mingled
with the earth that had fallen in, was
task slow and tedious. As they pro-
ceeded, occasional groans could still be
heard issuing from the cold damp earth
beneath. Every thing was soon put into
a systematic train-Persons were ap-
pointed to make all necessary provision
and preserve order and silence amongst
the crowd. The night was dark and
unpleasant-but by tine assistance of
lamps, they vigorously prosecuted the
work. Those in the well would at in
tervals call to the buried man, to ascer-
tain if he could hear them-but no an
swer could as yet be heard. A general
silence and solemnity prevailed, broken
only by the occasional murmur of in
quiry among the crowd, the hollow
noise of the stones tumbled into the
bucket in the well-the voice of the
woTkmen-and now and then the groans
of the distressed man beneath! 1t was
now towards midnight, and they had
tgone about twenty feet below the sur
face; the workmen in the we'll called a.
gain to Gerry-a breathless silence pre-
vailed, and distinct answer was return
ed! They now teiIed with renewed ar
dour, occasionally calling TO Gerry as
before, and receiving in return distinct
responses. They asked him, what dis
lance he thought he was down He ra-
tiOnally replied, Between 40 and so
feet" Between two and three o'clock,
when they had come to within 90 fee,
Of him, they stopped about Is minutes
to take some refreshment. The poor
sufferer below, who for some time had
been conscious of The exertions Of his
sympathising fellows, perceiving that
the noise from :he tumbling Of the
stones into the bucket no longer contin-
ued, now fancied they had ceased their
exertions, and left him to expire in that
terrible situation In this moment Of
despair he burst out into pitiful tone
of wailing, and begged them "for Gods
sake not 10 leave him." They informed
him of the cause Of their stopping, and
he was soon gladdened by the returning
sound Of the rafting Of the stones in the
bucket. About day. Light they 'lbwered
} the mass down even with his head. They
found him forty-eight feet below the
surface, in an erect position, completely
wedged in. A large stone weighing
} eighty pounds, rested on his head, which
was turned a little up, making conside-
rabIe cash. though not producing frac-
: ture in the skull---a stone on each side
Of his head pressing like a vice, and one
or two smaller ones, covered with blood,
about his face, leaving small aperture
for. his mouth, so that he could just
breathe and speak. His arms were
raised in the position in which he held
the rope--one foot was in the bucket,
and the other, fortunately, was at liber-
~ so that he could move it--no other
part of his body could he stir! So
tight was he wedged in, that it was nee