Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1867-07-25

A horrible accident occurred in our town
on Wednesday evening, the 18th Hst. a
contract having been let by the Town COun'
all lof v hich we mentioned in this paper two
weeks agO) to aink a well forty feet deep, a.
The Dlaoe bored for an Artesian Well, one
wear AGO. The well, on Wednesday evening
being sunk about fourteen feet deep in solid
rock by means of blasting powder, some o.
the men then proposed putting in Q large
blast in the main hole which had been drill
id for the Artesian we'll. The idea was
new one, but it pleased everybody, Money
was raised and the powder purchased, and
all the necessary arrangements being made
about nine pounds of powder was tightly
tamped in the hole with clay and sand. A
large billet Of wood made round wal then
driven into the hole and large braces from
thence were securely set. All hands then
repaired to the top to await the result
Upon the discharge Of the powder, Q number
of rocks were thrown out Of the well-tht
weight Of the largest being 352 pounds
and some as high as the Court House. Tht
we'll being full Of smoke from the burn
powder prevented the crowd from seeing
the result of the experiment. Several mer
wanted to 60 down. Jacob Clements, DIV
Gilman and A. F. Drake went down to The
bottom Of the we'll; but as soon 40 they
reached the bottom, Drake was heard say
HTaks us out quiokl" and at the same tint
looking up with a wild gaze. DR.. D.. V. Ran
nslls being at the we'll, and observing the
wild appearance Of Drake, suspiciOned tia
something was wrong. Gilman says that h'
experienced a shortness of breath on reach
ing the bottom, and resolved to 60 out, btt
would wait until the other two should &
out and he ca ught hold of the rope and WI
drawn out of the we'll insenGible, still hold
ing q death grip upon the rope, and was Ger
ried into the street as dead to oil appear
anee. Clements and Drake were seen FIJI
down as they caught hold of the rope at III
time Gilman caught it. DR. Rannells ther
called for water to be thrown upon them =
This sudden and unexpected result produced
o shock upon the crowd Of citizens who
had then assembled the widest exCitemtnt
prevailed and every person seemed to have
a different mode of getting Them out. There
they lay apparently dead-almosi within
arms reach-and yet few were the men who
dare venture into what seemed to be the pit
of death" toibring them outl Water was
according to the Doctors directions, thrown
down in large quantities upon the two men
as they Law, insensible to all around them
Harmon Lowrey, having the rope tied
around him, Was let down, but was unable
to accomplish anything, and was drawn up
insensible. At this moment the excitement
became alarming in the extreme, and
no hepc was entertained for the rescue of
the men, who, but q few moments before
were standing by our side, and who seem
ed to be ~slumbering in the sleep Of death.
Capt. William J.. Rannells then Topped the
rope around his body and went down to
bring them up. Clements who was lying
on his back with his mouth wide open, and
inhsling all the Impurities of the air in the
we'll, was drawn up first. Drake was found
with his head dropping upon his breast
thus preventing him from inhaling as great
quantities Of the poison as Clements. No
signs Of life Icould DO seen in either of
them for considerable time, After about
an hour and q half Drake became some
what sensible, but remained Eighty during
all the night. Clements was carried homo
and remained perfectly inscnsible for about
thirty six hours; and he says that he knew
nothing like himself until Friday evening
He has no recollection Of anything co n
corning the blast. Their narrow escape
from death may serve as a warning o others
and their rescue is all attributable u the
good judgment of DR. Rsunells in ordering
water to be thrown down upon them-tbus
carrying down with it q body of pure air.