The New York herald., 1875-09-24
lie COnyerSeS with His ReScuer at Intervals
During FOrty-eight Hours.
Marvellous Stupidity of
the Workers.
Sykes Reached at Midnight and
Supposed To Be Dead.

below the surface for nearly thrtysx hours and yet
unrescued of Lester Sykes, plumber by trade and
bachelor living at the of Shad lane and the Cold
Spring road The facts of this shocking accident as
gathered by HERALD representative are as follows
1t seems that Daniel Golden living on the Amostown
road, about half mile beyond the new West Spring
field reservoir and three miles and
half from this city, had dug well
beside his house thirty-seven feet down
without finding the water to I'll 1t. He then employed
Mr Sykes, professional well-borer, and the unfor
unate victim of this terrible accident Soon after
dinner, Mr. Golden himself fixed the ladders and yes
terday afternoon Mr. Sykes descended with his tools
The bottom of the well of quicksand a curbng
of plank backed by straw extending nearly the bot
tom and to within twenty feet Of the top, the
rest of the upper part being gravel and requiring no
curbing.
THE TREACHERoUs BUBBLE.
Mr. Sykes had bored about eight feet down with a
small pipe when he struck vein OF water which I'M
medatey bubbled to the surface. As quickly a flash
the treacherous quicksand began to move. The
doomed his peril and sprang for the
ladder, but quick the rush of the
down coming sand that before he had assembled half
dozen rounds the walls of the well had entirely closed
in upon him and shut him from all chance of escape
Snguary enough, in falling, the planling the top
had lodged protect and leave Sykes head en-
legs pnioned fast by the sand and panking, and
yet without bone being broken and but fow bruises
HELP.
The earth had not packed close above but that he
could make himself heard, and loudly did he call on
Golden for help but the latter, transxod with terror
stood mute and helpless. The imprisoned man then
directed Golden to help, and he speedily
encountered the Rev. Mr. Pomeroy, who descended
into the well at considerable risk. After learning from
Sykes how he situated and that he suffering
much from pan he assured him that he would soon bring
help to which Sykes replied, 500, and God bless you"
REscuERs
Help soon came for the OF the accident once
started spread like wldGro and speedily of men
ready with pick and shovel to assist in releasing
the doomed man. The yet three hours high in
the heavens and did though persistent hard
work might dig him out in safety before dark but alas
the strong brawny arms of the countrymen were as
ignorant of the best method they willing to
work, and for sheer lack of skilful direction two
days and two nights of almost continuous
digging have failed TO rescue tho imprisoned
man, who almost unharmed in the full possession of
his faculties able to with and meas
direct the efforts of his would-be rescuers has
literally died by inches through thiry-sx and more
hours of suffocation and starvation. At first Sykes
thought the saving Off of plank would relieve him
unfortunate move for was cut than it let
the earth in upon him in larger quantities and necessi
tted the forcing of gas pipe down to tho open space
about his head TO give him air to breathe This
successfully done, and then the workers began to dig
down on the outside sufficient distance to throw the
dirt back from the side where the cavng in the
greatest to relieve the pressure of the boards.
WORK.
Night coming on huge bonfire was kindled close by
the well to furnish light for the toers and all night till
three O'Clock this morning the work continued.
BLUSH.
At this time Sykes either from exhaustion OF Sleep
ceased to reply to the shouts above and the toers-
blush record it of Western Massachusetts town. in
this nineteenth century-discouraged and thinking him
Dead ceased to work and left him to his fate Soon
after daylight this morning, however discovered
that the unfortunate and deserted still alive
His breathing, though in slumber, could be plainly
heard through the gas pipe Then the work of digging
him out was renewed and as the day hundreds
collected around the spot TO and during the
forenoon
SYKES CONSCIOUS
Mr.. Sykes recovered consciousness and, at twelve
minutes before noon, replied TO question that he had
his senses and tolerably comfortable and had
siona glimpses of light through the apertures about
the ladder which reached feet above the fallen
debris At five minutes past twelve he spoke again,
and asked the bo careful to protect him and get
him out and give him some water. He assured
that every possible thing being done for
None but eye witnesses Of the place and circum-
stances conceive Of the caution which
sary to exercise false stroke or wrong plan would
not only inevitably I'll the well and bury the poor man
beyond all hope Of recovery, but also greatly
endanger the lives OF several of the
pioneer workers Careful, CAREFUL" was the cry
from the picked few who worked about the mouth of
the WE'LL for occasional cod fell and ratified on
the plankng sounded like the knel of sods a coffin.
At one p NJ large land slide occurred and the treach-
erous sides OF the well threatened annihlae the trio
of brave in the unfinished curbng but curb
ing was soon got in and the again fell to work with
a will
At twenty-five minutes past Sykes feebly an
swered 'Yes' to the question: care you alive YETI"
and the crowd which by this time numbered fully one
thousand persons and over two hundred teams gave
rousing cheer, while well dressed men from this
city piled spade and pick till perspraton triced from
their faces None stopped for dinner Huge baskets
of crackers and cheese passed. but few had either
the time the desire to eat The earth hard and
gravely, and digging discouraging work. During
all these twenty four hours not a mouthful of
for, although his head was comparatively
free, he could not move hands mouth TO the iron
pipe which furnished him with air. II was sadly
solemn scene impressive stiffness hung over the
place, broken by murmuring voices discussing some
new plan or th$ probability of success Tho sudden
death by railroad crash roaring flood would have
produced less shock than this slow torturng death of
single man. separated from twice thousand willing,
helping hands by only few feet of treacherous earh
SYKES DOES RESPOND
About three O'Clock Sykes again ceased to respond to
tho calls could his breathing be heard through the
pipe and the general impression was that he had at
last succumbed to his fa4 Soon after, for
courtablo reason the saspipc pulled up, and the
now quiet victim W. means of obtaining air. ex
cept II found its way through the beams and sand
over his head. Hardly had tho pipe been withdrawn
too, when City Marshal Pease, Of this city,
arrived with forty feet OF rubber ppo, which
previously scomed to have thonght of bungltNgly