Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-07-16
From the Cleveland. Herald.
Remarkable Escape IRON Death,

We have been turnished with the par
ticulars Of an exciting scene which trsae-
ri ed in the township VI columbia, Lorain
county,. on Saturday. the 9Oth 'ult whteh
should operate ~ caution against &C.
scandinR iRto wells. -
a ia about iGteen.; named Jarvis Noble,
dsscended into the well Of his gsa ndfather,
WIN. r. Smith, 10 recover a'bucket when
had fallen, and when part way down he
reached the noxieus gas and instantly Tell
to the bottom, where were four feet Of
wster.
An alarm given by two lads who were
watching Jarvis, over the cnrb, drew the
family from the supper table. On seeing
the dying condition Of the by, his uncle,
VIM. A. Smith. entered the well. being let
down by the windIass, md found Jarvis in
/ an uprigh. position leaning against the wall,
with his head and shoulders out ct the wat.
er, but in asenseless condition. The air
Immediately affected Mr. Smith So that he
could render no aid, and called TO be drawn
out, which was done. he not being able to
stand when he reached the top.
Calvin Smith, brother Of William a.
in the excitement OF the moment, then went
into the well without any rope, but had got
down but q lew feet. when. inhaling the
| gas, he fell to the bottom. The father,
Wm. F.. Smith, then entered the we'll TO
res cue his son and grandson, being let down
by rope tied beneath his arms. The curb
was knocked away, 10 give the rope length
enough to enable Mr.. 3. TO reach the two
bodies, and the father succeeded in getting
| an extra rope around his son Calvin, but
| could not tie il before the gas ovcrcame him,
and the three seemed dying together Taose
above, for Mr.. Thomas Peachy, William
Nicos aud other neighbors, had rallied, cal
| led to the elder Mr.. Smith, but he was
speeches.; and drawing up the rope which
held him, they raised the father and the son
toaether-the grasp OF the former upon the
rope passed around the latter was death
clutch-bu. before getting into the mouth
of the well, the rope slipped through the
hands Of the father. and Calvin tell heavi-
| " back into the water, and the father was
drawn out senseless, vet alive. Then VIM.
A. Smith, having recovered from the effects
of his first descent, went down second
time, having rope fastened to his body,
| and was enabled to pass another around his
brother Calvin.
Al this time Jarvis had been in the well
half an hour and as the rope was pissed
| around Calvin, from some cause--probably
the agitation Of the water partially lifted
the noxioas gas from its surtace-Jarvis re-
| vyed sufficiently to make one struggle for
lie, and climbing up CaIyin's back got hold
Of The rope, and the three were drawn up
ward. When half way up aud about twelve
| feet from The mouth, Mr. Thomas Peactly
was 1T down by rope and succeeded IN
| fastening another rope round the lad JARVIS,
| and all were 6naiy, one BY one, drawn
/ from the we'll We are glad to know that
| the four who suffered from the gas are all
recovering. We suppose the agitation ut
the water prevented total extinction Of!
| life.
1t is fact worthy Of note, that the young
man, Jarvis Noble, entered the Well about
two weeks since, and thoroughly cieaned IL
The extinguishinen, Of lighted candle, or
torch, or any other fame, is sure Indicator
OF the presence of carbonc acid gas.