The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-06-08
From the Utica Herald !
BURIED ALIVE.
Martin Bellman's Sunday Work In Well
at Home and What came of it Prospects
Of a Narrow Escape.

of a Narrow Escape.
ROME, June 4.
One OF the most exciting accidents that
has ever shocked our community occurred
about balf-psst one o'clock this afternoon
at Factory village. One Martin Bel man.
poor, hard "orking man, Who is employ
ed at Brodock's soap factory, had been at
work CLEANING out well belonging to Paul
Bernhart on Second street He had got
out Of the well all right, but finding that
the pump did not stand just right he went
down about thirteen feet to fix it. AS he
stood there the wall of the well, which WAS
OF cubblestcne, commenced giving way un-
der him, and all al once the whole OF one
side of the well caved in,
BURYING HIN ALIVE.
The news spread like wild-flre through
out the city ard created cummolion sell
dom tqusled People from all porIs rushed
TO the scene OF the accident, and in few
minu'es hundreds had gathered at that
point. The excitement was intense. The
crowd rushed wildly to the very edge of
the well, making the danger all The N re
imminent, as 1t was very soon discovered
that the m an was alive and that only one
arm and his legs were fastened by the dirt,
anu every liinc buc SiCllHtu utdi tuc tuSe
1t would give away. Belmau's head aud
body were behil d the pump So that he
could move them very lItle. Plen Of
willing hands were soOG at wUlk with h, ei
and shoves doing their best to rescue the
poor man from what seemed dtstini to be
his grave, but the excitement wa s great,
and the men were obliged TO work with go
much care that their progress seemed very
slow. Every few minutes Bellman would
cry out 10 those above him to work as rap
idly as possible, as he was fast losing
strength, and that, together with the sight
of his peor wife, who sat near by with her
little babe in her arms, refreshed the hard
working men, and they labored with re-
newed energy. The police were promptly
on hand and kept the crowd back so that
the men could work. They were Obliged
to stretch rope around the well at some
distance from it TO keep the crowd back
About p. M. the men had dug far enough
So that one of Belmans hands could he
seen, and when this report reached the ears
of the anxious throng there was a general
rush for the mouth of the well. After u
long time quite hole was made and Geo.
Seidel, one of the workmen was let down
by rope, After working in that position
for about an hour, he tainted and was
uIAWu Out ny tue QUIET WOIkCTs. w men
Seidel revived. he said that Bellman was
becoming very faint and breathtd with
much difficulty; that he had seen his ht adj
and they were digging around his body.
There was heavy shower during the after
noon, which made the working very un-
pleasant. and all of the men were thorough
ly soaked. 1t became dark very early,
which was another hindrance to the work
men.
STILL IN THE WELL.
$50 p. m.-Belman is still in the well,
and so weak that he can hardly talk. hav-
ing been in that position for eight and
half hours, but the men are working hard,
and they feel confident that they will soon
get hip, out.
AT 0 o'clock the men had dug down even
with Bellman's head, aud as soon as posi-
BILE he was given stimulants This revived
him somewhat. An air pipe WAS then fixed
to breath through and he said he felt quite
comfortable. AT this lime the workmen
found that they hao dug their trench lead
ing to the well too narrow, and that they
VIII have Ia commence at the top and dig
il wider. As this will uecessiiaie vast
deal of hard work. B,llman can haid'y
be got out before midnight. The crowd at
he well this evening was estimated at fit
teen hundred and upwards.
At last accounts the men employed in
digging were working hard but making
slow progress, as the gravel and sand cavtd
in as fast us it wss touched The digging
party had got down far enough to supply
Bellman with stimplsnts.
STILL BrRIRD.
Rome, June 5. l a. N -Bellmau Is alive
but not yet out of the well, and wi probably
not be rescued until daylight. Everything
possible is being done. c. F. R.