Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-01-19
DUFAVEL's ADVENTURE IN THE WELL.

One morning, early in September, 1886, as
Duhvels, one of the laborerrs employed in sink
ing well at a place near Lyons in France, was
about to descend in order'to begin his work, one
of his companions called out to him not to 90
down, as the ground was giving way and threat
ened to fall in. Dufavel, however, did not
p1oGt by the warning, but exclaimng, " s'all
have plenty of time to go down for my basket
first, he entered the well, which was sxty-two
feet in depth. When about half way down, he
heard some large stones falling; but he never
theless continued his descent, aud reached the
bottom in safety. After placing two pieces of
plank in his basket, he was preparing to reas-
cend, when he suddenly heard a crashing sound
above his head, and, looking up, he saw FIVE of
the side-supporters of the well breaking at once.
Greatly alarmed, he shouted for assistance, as
loudly as he was able; but the next moment
large mass of sandy soil fell upon him, preclu-
ding the possibility of his escape. BY singu-
lar good fortune, the broken supporters fell to-
gether in such q manner, that they formed
species of arch over his head, and prevented the
sand from pouring down, which would have
smothered him at once. To all appearances,
however, he was separated from the rest of the
world, and doomed to perish by sufocation or
famine He had a wife and child, who now
came into his mind; and the thought of them
made him feel still more bitterly his imprudent
obstinacy in descending into the we'll, after be-
ing warned of the danger to which he was ex-
posing himself.
But, although Dufavel regretted the past and
feared for the future, he did not give way to
despair Calm and self-possessed, he raised his
heart in prayer to God, and adopted every pre-
caution in his power to prolong his life. His
basket was fastened to the cord by which he had
descended and when his comrades began to pull
the rope, in the hope of drawing Inn to the
surface, he observed that in their vain efforts
they were causing his basket to strike against the
broken planks above him, in such manner as
to bring down stones and other things He
therefore cut the rope with his knife, which he
had no sooner done, than it was drawn up by
those at the top of the well and, when his
friends saw tho rope SO cut, they knew that he
must be alive, and determined to make every cx-
crtion to save him.
The hole made by the passage of this rope
through the sand that had fallen in, was of the
greatest use to Dumvel through it he received
supply of fresh air, and, after while, his
friends contrived to convey food to him, and to
even speak with him. OF course he was in ut
ter darkness but he was enabled, in curious
manner, to keep reckoning of time. A large
fly was shut up with him, and kept bin eompa-
ny all the time he remained there. When he
heard it buzzing about he knew it was day and
when the fly was silent, he knew that it was
night The fly boarded as well as lodged with
him he was careful as he could be not to inter-
rupt it while taking its share of his meal when
he touched it, it would Ay away, buzTing as il
offended, but soon return again. He often said
afterwards, that the company Of this fly had
been q great consolation to him.
More skillful persons than the poor laborer
of the village Champvert were soon engaged il
the attempt to liberate Dufavel. The munich
pal authorities of Lyons procured the assistance
of band of military miners, who, under tn,
direction of experienced officers, began to form
q subteranean passage for the purpose of reliev
ing him. Prayers for his safety were daily Of
fered up in the churches Of Lyons, and much in
terest prevailed; it was found Necessary to erec
a barricade, and station guard of soldier
around the scene Of accident, to keep off tn
aocking crowd from the neighborhood, oil cage
to obtain news, and see what was being done.
The cavity at the bottom of the we'll, owe
which the wooden rafters had 50 providentiall
formed sort of roof. was at first about seve