Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1868-06-26
An Oxford County Man Buried Aliv
Fcrty Feet Deep in Well.


Bryant, formerly of Bethel. in this County.
who lost his life May 30th. in the town Of
Quincy. in that State. by being buried
alive. II SAYS, the event cast deep gloom
over the community for miles around
The particulars OF this distressing calam-
i,y are as follows; Two brothers named
V. G. and o l.. Bryant. were digging a
well for II. L. Bush. The we'll was 56 feet
deep. dug through sand all the way. and
was curbed up with two tier. OF round curb.
ing made of fencing boards. fastened to.
ge,her inside with common hogshcad hoops.
The first tier was sixteen feet. and the
second eight feet long.
At the time OF the caving only the
the we'll IL was stoned up about eleven
feet. and o. l.. Bryant was in The we'll in
the act OF stutfins come hay back OF the
lower curbing to keep the sand from rat.
thing down,when suddenly it commenced TO
cave in around his feet. and. in moment
he was buried about ten feet deep under the
sand. the lower curbing breaking in around
his head and partially protecting it. Ills
brother. finding that be wa. alive. jumped
upon horse and started for help. In
twenty minutes 6lty men were on the
ground, and sei 20 work TO dig the IN
fortunate man out. IL WAS half past ten in
tho morning whcn the caving occurred. and
at IL l , O'Clock they bad dug down TO
within 4 foot and half oiwbere Mr. Bry ant
was standing lis brother V. g.. was dig
ging out the sand. aud 10y putting his bead
on the ground could plainly hear the voice
Of bis brother under him. He said they
would have to hurry aud get hin, out As be
could not live much longer"
There was every prospect OF getting him
out alive, when Suddenly, the sand Just be.
low the upper carbiug commenced falling
II was with the utmost difficulty that v. G..
Rryapt could be prevai lied upon to come
out; and when be did star, the sand was
rapidly falling. and be was somewhat
bruised in being drawn through it, BY the
time be was drawn up. the well had caved
10 clear TO the top Of the ground burying
the unfortunate man forty Eve fee, under
the sand
Active preparations were instantly made
to DIG 10 him. and put in strong curbing OF
plank all the way down. An the bridges 10
The town were stripped OF plank, and under
the direction OF T. 4. Wiltse. Of Evoia.
the well was securely curbcd. All OF
Saturday afternoon and night, and all day
Sunday. until seven O'Clock in the evening.
was the labor Of digging KEEP, up without
cessation. All hopes OF finding him alive
had been given up long before. An i'm.
mense crowd OF men. women. and children
from far aud near. were on the ground all
day, with sadness and anxiety depicted on
than 400 prescn. during The day
The work OF hauling OPP the dirt aud put
ting IN the cuThing was very slow. and
progressed about eight inches an hour.
\; twenty minutes past four. the iisgers,
Charlie Barnes. Jerome Keichum. and T.
w Sehecks, came 10 ,lie body. which they
found stiff ana cold. standing upright At on.
side OF the we'll, with the head tightly press
cd against the wall. They were obliged to
dig down 20 the feet ia orle, to get j, out.
After they had done this. the dir, under
them gave way and they were precipi,atcd
into the stoned up par, OF the we'll. the
corpse falling on them. They were quickly
drawn up. those out side under the ifnpre,
sion thai the wall had again oaved in.
Alter awhile seeing all safe below. sir
Sche"ks went down and attached a rope TO
the deal body, and taking hold Of il him.
self both were drawn to The top. IL pre.
senied a CHASTITY and heart sickening sight
It was laid out on bed prepared under
tree. and an examination made by DR.. l.
I. Wright. who said there were no .ian. O
life visible aud tina, Mr.. Bryant had been
dead at least "a hours No bones were
broken but the body was pressed out OF
shape somewhat.
The deceased was 4 widower. aged about
81. lie had 10 children. but was living
With bis aged mother who kept house fof
him. lie vas worthy citizen. an cxem.
plary christian, and a kind and devoted son
Tor two years past he ha. been Saperin.
tenIcrt OF the Unicn Sabbath school in ,bc
vicinity IN which he lived. and hi. loss will
be deeply dePlofed by a large circle Of
friends and acquaintance.
GRANTS Assassination THREATENED.