The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-03-04
DROWNED BIZ INCHES.
A Man Hurled I'm n Well Water
Slowly Rises and DrOwns Him.

An accident of horrible nature oc-
CURED OH the farm of Mr.. Houston,
near the village of Wyton, Canada, on
Saturday afternoon last, resulting in
the death, by drowning, of an aged
well-digger named William Robins.
The well on the premises became foul,
and several parties were applied to to
cleanse it; but each one, ON examina-
ton, refused, as from the construction
of the well the process lid not appear
safe. 1t was an Old.fashioned well,
thirty feet deep, and walled up with
loose bOulders. Robins undertook the
job without fear, as he had been WELL
digger of some thirty years experience,
and expressed no fears for his safety.
The water was pumped out, and he de-
scended. About midway was a piece
of pump-log running across the well,
and blocking up the way. This he
found it necessary to remove. But no
sooner had the tackle been applied,
and the wood started, than the stones
and earth caved in on all sides, burying
him beneath them. The block i'm some
measure checked the descent, or else
the unfortunate man must have been
crushed to death Immediately.
But he was only spared to meet a
terrible death by slow drowning. Part
of the debris formed partial arch over
him-the rest wedging him i'm tight |
below. Those above were almost par
alyzed by the sight before them; and,
for some time, thinking poor Robins |
beyond all hope of recovery, did no.
thing to extricate him. At last his |
voice was heard, as it were, afar off, |
feebly calling to those above to clear |
away the stones and let him out. This |
reassured the men, and one and all set |
to work with will i'm the best manner
that suggesteditself; man went down,
and by means of a tub, lowered and |
raised by windlass, a large quantity |
of stones and earth was passed up. AS |
fast as they worked, however, the earth !
kept falling in. All this while the voice |
of Robins was heard at intervals-now |
implOring deliverance, in affecting |
terms, now making incoherent ejacula- !
tons, and again invoking mercy.
'The water is rising; it's now up to !
my knees; but work away boys and
you'll save me yet" came from way |
down in the bowels of the earth in a |
faint tone, but yet distinct enough to
be understood.
Then the voice broke into sobs of
despair.
Each time it was heard the men i'm
the we'll and at the windlass put on
fresh energy, and worked till great |
beads of sweat rolled off their brows
the crowd continually Increased, until |
at last there was very large and ex-
cited assemblage OH the spot.
ut rises very fast; o, let me out of
this 20
The thought that the man, besides
the agony he must have endured from |
the pressure upon his body, was slowly |
drowning, lent fresh vigor to the work |
of deliverance; but the exhumation |
was extremely slow from the sandy |
nature of the soil, which fell i'm almost |
as rapidly as it was taken out. Thus |
the work went on for three hours, and !
at last the unfortunate man was reach !
ed. But he was dead. The water had |
gradually risen, and, unable to move,
so firmly was he jammed in, he at last |
succumbed- ACTUALLY drowned by drops! |
How frightful must have been his last
agonies!
The Coroner was communicated with, |
with the view of holding an inquest,
but upon hearing all the circumstances
he did not deem it necessary to do so.