The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-09-24
TMpRIsoNED IN A WE'LL.
CAUGHT In the Ouicltsrnd Thirty Feet Below
the surface Finv Men Digging Might
aud Day TO Rescue the Dying Man.

srRINar1ELD, Mass, Sept. 23.-Daniel
Calder, who lives on the AmOstown road In
west Springfield having dug well thiriv-sevon
feet deep without striking water. employed Les
ter Sykes. n professional well borer. TO pierce
tho bottom for the expected water supply. Mr.
Calder himself fixed the ladders, and Yesterday
afternoon sykes descended with his tools. The
bottom OF the well was Of quick A curb
ing Of plank backed by straw extended nearly to
the bottom, and to within twenty.onc feet Of
the top, the rest Of the upper part being gravel
and requiring no curbing. sykes had bored hut
little way before the quicksand began tc rve
and he Jumped for the ladder but not u,ickly
enough 10 escape. Tho sand flowing In un Ter
the curbine let loose the pressure from above
aud forced the planking against Sykos. fastening
him to the side OF the wall. Al the same time
tho sand was cnving IN from above. Sykes called
tu Calder Tor help, but hs was powcrlesa to aid
nun. lie then directed Calder to summon help,
ana ne speedily encOuntcrQd the Rev IB. n
Pomerov. who sounded tho alarm and brought
the villaeors u tho spot. II wa found impossl-
lle to do anything in the well without pndan-
gerlng the lIfe ul tho imptisonc man; therefore
under the direction Of Sykca. who reported that
the pressure VS. from IN, aoutIon. I aide aor,c
iitv men began DIGGING a semioirculnr pit thtrty
feet IN diameter and about three feet from tho
we'll Intending to carry 10 deep enough to I'm.
impatient OF the DELAY. Albert Ward went
down into the well to sec II something could
be upNe. sykes tuld nm To get n saw and r1t
OF certain plank and he could free himself
Ward got the saw aud mad cut the plank nearly
on. when the CaNinr sInd compelled him to
ccUs'. Meanwhile tho men IN the nit were
working win all possible speed, though slowly
at best NiGlt coming on, bonrrc was kindled
close hv the well to furnish light Tor the tolcrs
and all night the work wis continued bv willing
hands. Al about O'clock sykes SAID H. was
getting wclk, and a pine was forced through the
earth. which gave hiin anpndnnt air. The scene
WAS intensely exc'Ung. A tho news spread
people Kept l'ckiuc by horse and foot, until 2OO
had gathered about the OF. Occasionally could
be heard the faint voice of sykes asking particu-
l'rs oi the work aooNc. which 80 concerned him.
OF course, "a thcS uelred tho point where he
WIS supposed t. be standing, the digging was
done with greater caution, les the earth should
be driven down upon him. When IL sifted
through The timer SYEcs would give warning
that II was falling ON his head. The work In TIE
pit was pushed all night and continued to-day
with all possible yigor, al hourh hope has been
sever. tunes abandoned AT noon to-day sykes
was still alive and able to speak.
SEPr. Ill \. N.-Sykcs wis reached shortly
after midnight, thirty-stX hours neAry from the
time no went INTO the well hui ha gave no sign
of he, and undoubtedly Is dead. II will be
some hours vet before tho timhcfs and sand
piled around him can be- cut away sufficiently to
allow his BODY 10 be removed.