The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-14
SHOCKING AFFAIR AT CONCORD, n. r..

A Man Buried Alive-Great Excitement
Among the Citizens-The Whole Male Popu.
Iatiou of the City Turns Out to Assist in
ExtricatinG tho Body.
CONCORD, August 10, 1862
A most distressing accident occurred In this city
yesterday afternoon. George A. Dow Of the nrm Of
Dow, Kenney Co., well known master masons
was engaged with two or more men IN digging
well on the premises OF Colonel George H. Hutchns
on Merrimac street. Up 10 noon everything had
gone on well. The workmen had reached a depth
Of about thirty-eight feet As far as the shaft
descended the plank curbing was put In by Mr.. Dow
In person. His wife asked him in the morn
Ing If he did not consider 1t a dangerous undertak-
ing. he answered, Eyes, somewhat, but have no
fears for shall build all the curbing myself" At
the time Of the accident, which occurred about
Quarter-past three O'Clock Mr.. Dow was ct the bot
tom Of the well at work upon the curbing. His as
elstants were at the top letting down lumber ana
TOOLS AS the clock struck three he sung out pleas
Antly to the men above, 'Three O'Clock and alrs
wen. We are getting along nicely" These were the
last words he was heard TO speak. Soon afterwards
there was rumbling In the bottom Of the well and
the men looked down ana saw that the bottom was
one confused mass OF broken curbing and earth.
As the rumbllng sound commenced they heard Mr..
pow's voice, but could not distinguish his words.
The alarm was at once given and hundreds rushed
70 the spot. Mr.. Lyman X. Fellows, with his gang
Of men, who were engaged on the sewerage work
on Main street, were promptly on the spot and Mr..
Fellows directed affairs until the arrival OF
Captain A. B. Holt, who assumed tie charge at
the request OF ali present At first IL was attempted
10 lower man with bucket and wind
lass TO commence exhuming at the bottom. A
Mr.. Patch was the first to get into the bucket but
he mad not been more than half way let down
when another caving began, and II was found that
his life not safe IN the WELL Part Of the crowd
then commenced diggfng away the surface Of the
ground near the top OF the well, and others began
the construction OF new curbing to be let down In.
side OF that which remained whole. The work was
prosecuted with all the rapidly and earnestness
that hundreds OF strong men from all classes OF s0c
city were capable OF exhibiting, Al five O'CLOCK the
rst piece OF curbing, fifteen feet IN len tn,
with considerable difficulty. At about three O'Clock
This morning after nearly twelve hours OF unremittng
and dangerous labor, the body OF Mr. Dow was dlscov
cred at the depth OF some thrtyf0ur Feet he was IN
arose as to how the remains could be extracted
The men had reached the bottom OF the lowest sec
ton OF curbing, and az each piece excepting the
nrst two had 10 be smaller than the one preceding
II was evident that still another section would have
70 Rf much more contracted The work was then
said that another caving was likely to occur al
any time and which would inevitably carry death tt
all in the shaft. STILL brave men whose heroic deeds
will long be remembered came forward and calmly
tolpptecied to go to the bottom and relieve those
there whose herculean labors had almost exhausted
them. large crowd OF people were still collected
rSpfesenttng all classes OF citizens. Ladies' were
present dispensing hot coffee and refreshments. A
10 keep back the eager crowd, whose pressure upon
the earth was likely TO induce another cavIng. Just
outside of the rope stood relIefs OF strong menten
times a. many as could possibly be wanted under
Any circumstances-all anxious TO join In the work
The vicinity Of the well was brilliantly lighted w