The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-03-11
REMARKAnLe PRESENTATION

+, | 1850 '''' - - ~ ~ u HN sA'fItNh
in the state of New York, on the 92d
May. Mr.. James Gerry, an Irish.
man, had descended n well for tn,
purpose of remo,ing some obstruc.
tions. The we'll was 81 feet deep, &
some of the stones in the well. ncaI
the bottom. had been looscned b,
the washing of quick sands. Hay.
ing descended between 40 and Sc
feet, as he Was standing with one
foot in the bucket, and the other up
on the side Of the well, on a sudden.
the stones below gave way and clos
ed together. and the whole mass oil
the walls above stink down upon him
and buried him beneath the ruins.
The shock, says the Geneva Ga
zette, produced by such a disaster,
can be imagined, but not described.
A groan issued from beneath the
stones aud earth, which proved that
life WAS not extinct, and inspired a
feeble hope Of eXtlicating the unfor-
tunate man alive Hundreds inn
mediatcly collected arouud the spot,
in painful s0icitude, all anxious to
bear part in reseuing fellow NOR
tai from SO terrible a grave :! The
most prompt and active exertions
we're made to eAca,a ate as soon as
possible. the stones and earth that
had fallen in. Ii was half past four
O'Clock. L. Nj. when the catastrophe
happened. In S minutes a wind
lass and bucket were procured and
put in operation. No less than 80
tons of stone were To be drawn up,
before relief could be given. But
few could labour at time, d though
they proceeded with the utmost ac-
tivity, the removing of so great a
quantity OF stones, mingled with the
earth that had fallen in, was task
slow and tedious. As they proceed
ed. occasional groans could still be
heard issuing from the cold damp
earth beneath. When night ap-
preached, they had penetrated but n
few feet below the surface, and the
prospect seemed gloomy and doubt
full. A crowd Of g or 500 aGxi0usIy
waited the issue ofthe event. Every
thing Was soon PAT into a systematic
traln-pcrsons were appointed to
make necessary prov isl0ns. and pre-
serve order and silence among The
crowd. The night was dark and
unplcasant-but, by the assistance
of lamps, they vigorously prosecuted
the work. Those in the we'll would,
at intervals, call to the buried man,
To ascertain if he could hear them
but no answer could as yet be heard.
A general silence and solemnity Pre-
vailed, broken only by the occasional
murmur Of inquiry among the crowd,
the hollow noise OF the stone tumblcd
into the bucket III the well--thc
voice of the northumberland now and
then the groans of the distressed man
beneath 1t was now towards mid
night, and they had gone about 30
feet below the surface tic work
men in the well called again IL Ger
ry-a brcathlcss silence prevailed,
and n distant answer was returned.
At this time the murmur of Joy ran
through the crowd, and the counten-
ances Of all were lighted up with
hope. They now toilcd with renew
ed ardor. occasionally calling to
Gerry as before, and receiving in re-
turn distinct responses. They ask
ed him. what distance he thought he
was down He nationally replied,
I. between 40 and so feet
There now remained not doubt
but he might be eXtriCatcd alive,
provided the stones were not arched
above him, in such a manner az to
fall Upon him when looscncd--thcy
now proceeded with the utmost eau
ton. Between two and three O'Clock,
when they had become to within 30
feet of him. they stopped about IS
minutes, to take some reircShincnt.
The poor sufferer below, who TO,
some time had been conscious Of the
exertions Of his sympatbising lei
lows, percci,ing that the noise from
the tumblIng Of the stones into the
bucket no longer continued, now
fancied they had ceased their exer-
tons and left him 10 expire in that
terrible situation In moment of
despair, lie burst ont into "a pitiiul
tone Of waiIlag. and begging them
- for Gods sake not to leave him"
| They juforInpd him of fhe Caucn ,f