Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-10-08
A Brave Fireman Rescues Two Men at
the Risk Of Ills Life.

TEE vicinity OF Dearborn and South Water
streets during the early hours OF last evening
was the scene Of an exciting struggle between
life and death, and the heroic members Of
Engine Company No. 10 can with pride point
TO their work last night, whereby a father aud
son were rescued from a horrible death By
sufocation. The feeling in the large crowd
which had gathered was intense while the
struggle was uncertain, and when success
came tho feeling burst forth into "three
cheers for the brave firemen."
At the foot of Dearborn street, between
South Water street and the river, is a shaft
about sixty feet deep, where the gas-main Is
carried under the river. II was the duty OF
Alexander Cow, an old man employed by the
Gas Company, to descend this shaft every
second day and pump the water from the
main. Yesterday about four o'clock he
went down into the dark shaft US usual,
but did not wait long enough for the
accumulated gas to escape. While engaged
at work he was overcome by the gas
and fell half sufocated on the bottom.
1t was fully 80 before his absence was
noticed, and then the alarm was sent TO the
house of No. 13 near by. The firemen turned
out with long ropes and lanterns. The condi-
tion of the shaft was easily seen by the lam
tern which went out when about thirty feet
down. Meanwhile a son Of the old man, James
William Cow, a young man of nineteen, had
| arrived at the shaft. rope was tied around
his body, and, with a foreman named Shay,
he was lowered into the shaft. When the two
| were about twenty feet from the bottom a
| piercing cry was heard, aud on pulling up, 1t
| was found that the boy had fallen from the
rope, and that Shay was overcome with the gas.
| By this time a large crowd had gathered, and
intense excitement prevailed.
A daughter and two more sons had arrived
| and were nearly crazy with grief. Meanwhile
| the suffocating groans Of the father and son
could be heard from the shaft. No light could
live in the shaft, and the men we're too weak
ened to grasp the ropes let down into the aw.
ful darkness. 1t seemed as If they must per
ish, with hundreds Of willing hands above to
help them, but not knowing how. The shaft
on the other side of the river was opened, and
this created a slight current Of sir. The lam
terms went down a little further, blt the groans
were almost dying out. AnothersOn attempt
ed to rescue his father and brother, but he
too, was brought up stihed.
Finally some one had good idea calcium
light was procured from the Oly1pic TheateI
and its strong light was directed down the
shaft. Then the crowd could SO the father
lying on his face, and his son Nth his face
turned upward-both apparentlyRead. Max
! ing another test with the lanterTN developed
the fact that the shaft was being cleared OF the
deadly escaping gas. Then was th time foi
volunteers. There was a short since, anC
then Lieutenant Thomas PumphrJ OF Com
pany No. ID, said: I'm go A rope was
fastened about him, and, putting a dix hand
kerchief in his mouth, he rapidly descended
the ladder leading down the shaft, His mo
tions were watched eagerly. He fastened the
rope about the boy. The crowd pulla eager
ly, and the unconscious boy was brelght t
the upper world Then the hero RImphry
made another trip and similarly brNght VI
the father. The son was easily broght to
and was found TO have sustained buttew in
juries, comparatively. The case Of thefathel
was more difficult. He had been four burs il
the shaft and was absolutely filed with gas
For a long time it was a struggle between lift
and death. The firemen chafed his hands
slapped his bare feet, and partially retore'
him with cold water. DR., Arndt finally ar
rived, and succeeded in reviving him SUN
ciently to allow of the removal Of the two t,
their home, No. l22 Kinzie street.
Engine Company No. 10 has a hero.-Ctcdg
| Tribune.