The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register. (Wilmington, Del.) 1824-1825, 1824-12-16
REMARKABLE PRESERVATION.

REMARKABLE PRESERVATION.
A wonderful instance of the preservation
of human life, when in imminent danger oc-
Cured at Geneva in the state OF New York,
on the, 22d ult. Mr.. James Gerry, an Irish
man, had descended well for the purpose
of removing some distractions. The well
was 81 feet deep, and some OF the stones IN
the wall, near the bottom, had been lossened
bv the washing of quicksands Having de
scended between 40 and so feet, as he was
standing with one foot on the bucket, and the
other resting upon the side of the wall, on
a 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 tho Geneva Gazette, pro-
duced by such disaster, can be imagined
but not described. a groan issued from be-
meath the stones and earth, which proved
that life was not extinct, and inspired fee
BILE hope of extricating the unfortunate man
alive Hundreds Immediately collected a
round the spot, in painful solcitude, all anx-
ous to bear part in rescuing fellow NOR
tai from so terrible a grave! The most
prompt and active excrtions were made to
| excavate as soon as possible, the stones and
earth that had fallen in. 1t was half past
four o'clock p M. when the catastrophe
happened. In Is minutes windlass and
bucket were procured and put in operation
No less than so tons of stone were to be drawn
up, before relief could be given. But few
could labour at time, and although they
proceeded with the utmost activity, the re-
moving Of so great quantity OF stones, MN
gled with the earth that had fallen in, was {
task slow and tedious. As they proceeded
occasional groans could still be heard issuing
from the cold damp Garth beneath.--Nher
nigh approached, they had penetrated but {
few feet below the surface, and the pros
pect seemed gloomy and doubtful. A GROVE
of or 800 anXiously waited the issue OF the
event. Every thing was soon put INTO sys
tcmatc train-persons were appointed u
make all necessary provision and preserve
order and silence amongst the crowd. ~
night was dark and unpleasant bur, by thi
assistance of lamps, they vigorously prosecu
ted the work. Those in the well would, q
intervals, call to the buried man, to ascertain
if he could hear them but no answer coult
as yet be heard. A general silence and so
; lemnity prevailed, broken only by the oc
casional murmurs of enquiry among thu
crowd, the hollow noise of the stones tum
bling into the bucket i'll the wcll-the voc
of the workmcn-and now and then TIL
groans of the distressed man beneath 1t wa
now towards midnight; ; and they had gon
about twenty feet below the surtace-th
workmen in the we'll called again to Gerry
breathless silence prevailed, and distinc
, answer was returned. At this murnu
of iov ran through the crowd, and the coun
tenances of all were frightened up with hope
f They now toilcd with renewed ardour, oc
/ casionally calling to Gerry as before and re
j cciving in return distant responses. he
!, asked him what distance he thought he wa
: DOWN. He nationally replied, between fol
d ty and fifty feet
4 There now remained not doubt but h
+ might be cxtricated alive, provided til
Il stones were not arched above him IN sue
!. a manner as to fall upon him when loosene'
: They now proceeded with the utmost cautio
! Between and o'clock when they Ia
il come to within 30 feet of him, they stoppe
a about Is minutes to take some reffesnmell
n The poor sufferer below who for some tim
v had been conscious OF the exerhons OF n
n sympathzing fellows, perceivlng that II
n noise from the tumbling OF the stones IN
NJ the bucket no longer continued, now fancit
4. they had ceased their cXertlons, and &c
i him to expire in that terrible situation
- this moment of dispair, he burst out into
\ pitiful tone Of wailing, and begged them II
ie Gods sake not to leave him = They i
formed him of the cause of their stopping
M and he was soon gladened by the returni
A. sound of the rafting stones in the buck
or They asked him sin what situation he was
and he answered that he was "wedged in
around by the stones" When they h
come within 8 or feet of him, he call
for some water to drink. His thirst was
natural result of his protracted agony. !
il bout daylight, they had lowered the ms
all down even with his head They found h
.ir forty eigh feet below the surface, in an
IL rnct nnsition. comnletelY Medged in, as