Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-03-11
DROWNED BY INCHES.
Man Buried IA q WelI-Thc Water
slowly Rises and browns Him,

SLOWLY Rises 0nd browns HIM,
An accident of a horrible nature &C
Cured on 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-dlgger named William Robins,
The we'll 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
lob without fear, as he had been q we'll
digger of some thirty years experience,
and expressed no fears for his safety.
The water was pumped out, and he de-
seconded. 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
md earth caved in on all sides, burying
him beneath them. The block in 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 q partial arch over
him-the rest wedging him in tight
below. Those above were almost par
alyzed by the ight before them and
for some lime, thinking poor Robin:
beyond all hope Of recovery, did no
thing to eXtricate him. AT last hi
voice was heard, as it were, afar of
foahly calling to those above to clea
away the stones and let HIM out. Thi
treasured the men, and one and all Sc
to work with q will in the best name
that suggested itself; n man wehtdown
and by means of a tub, lowered an,
raised by a windlass, q large quantit
of stones and earth VIA passed up. ;.
fast as they worked, however, the cart
kept falling in, All this while the vote
of Robins was heard at intervals-noH
imploring deliyerance, in a%tlectin
terms, now making incoherent eiacula
tons, and again invoking mercy.
'"The water is rising; it's now up t
my knees but work away boys an
you'll save me YETI came from wa
down in the bowels Of the earth in
faint tone, but yet distinct enough t
be understood.
Then the voice broke into Sobs {
despair.
Each time it was heard the men i
the well and at the windlass put o
fresh energy, and worked till gre;
beads of sweat rolled off their brows
the crowd continually increased, unit
at last there was a very large and el
cited assemblage on the spot.
sit rises very fast; Q, let me out
this ~
The thought that the man, besid,
the agony he must have endured frol
the pressure upon his body, was slOwl
drowning, lent fresh vigor to the wor
of de%liverance; but the eXhumatio
was extremely slow from the sand
nature of the soil, which fell in almo
as rapidly as it was taken OUT. Thl
the work went on for three hours, an
at last the unfortunate man was reael
ed. But he was dead. The water hG
gradually risen, and, unable to NOV
so firmly was he iammed In, he al la
notwithstanding drowned by drop
How frightful must have been hi la
agonies,
The Coroner was communicated sit
with the view Of holding au iu9ue,
but upon hearing all the cirgumstsuc
lie did not deem it necessary 20 do 80.