The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-10-01
True Herofsyu.
A BRAVE FIREMAN REscUEs TWO MEN AT THE
RISK OF HIS LIFE.

A BRAVE FIREMAN REscUES TWO MEN AT THE
RISK OF HIS LIFE.
lChicago Trbune]
The vicinity OF Dearborn and South
Water streets during the early hours of last
evening was the scene OF an exciting strug-
gle between life and death, and the heroic
members OF Engine Company No. Is can
with pride point TO their work last night,
whereby faith and son were rescued from
q horrible death by suffocation. The feeling
in the large crowd which had gathered was
intense while the struggle was uncertain.
and when success came the feeling burst
forth into Three cheers for the brave fire.
men,"
Al the foot OF Dearborn street, between
Souih Water street and the river, is a staff
about sixty feet deep, where the gas-main
IL carried under the river. 1t 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 O'Clock he
went down into the dark shaft as usual, but
did not wait long enough for the accumu-
lated gas to escape. While engaged at work
be was overcome by the gas and fell half
sufFocated on the bottom. It was fully 1880
before his absence was noticed, and then
the alarm was sent to the house OF No. 10
near By. The fjremen turned out with
long ropes and lanterns. The condition OF
the shaft was easily seen by the lantern,
which went out when about thirty feet
down. Meanwhile son OF the old man,
James William Cow, young man OF nine
teen, had arrived ut the shaft. A rope was
tied around bis BODY, and, with foreman
named Shay, he was lowered into the shaft.
When the two were about twenty feet from
the bottom Q piercing cry was heard, and
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 ex-
element prevailed.
A daughter and two more sons had ar
rived, and were nearly crazy with grief.
Meanwhile the su6ocafing groans OF the
father aud son could be heard from the
shaft. No light could live In the shaft, and
! the men were too weakened to grasp the
ropes let down into the awful darkness. II
seemed AZ u they must perish with hum
dreds Of willing hands above 10 help them,
but not knowing bow. The shaft on the
other side Of the river was opened, and
this created slight current OF air. The
lanterns weut down little further, but the
rsoans vets almost dying out. Another
son atfompted 70 rescue bis father and bro
Their, but Sc TOO Was brought up stified.
FINALLY some one had good idea. A cal
cium Ilrht Was procured from the Olympic
Theatre, aud rs strong rays were directed
down The shaft. Then the crowd could see
~ father lying on his face and his son with
~ lace turned upward--both apparently
oead. Making another test with the Ian.
1ofns Developed the fact that the shaft was
belpR cleared ol the deadly escaping gas.
Then Wne the time for volunteers. There
~ short stlences and then Lieuicn.
~ Thomas Pumphry, Of Company
10, ~, said: |" ri go.v A rope was
lo>tened about him, and. putting q
o1|k handkerchjel 10 his mouth, he rap
11ly descended the ladder leading down
~ shs1k HE motions were watched
{ (ofGFly. ~ fastened the rope about the
Z M. W efeed pulled eagerly and the m
p1oeleug boz NJ brought to the upper
8 NJ. m ~ Nm Punphry made an
~ MP ~. e)m(llsIy brought up the
I ~ n m m osStly brought 20, ard
~ - q ths