Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-10-08
A Brave Fireman Rescues Two Men at
the Risk Of His Life.


TIE 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
10 their work last night, whereby father and
son were rescued from a 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 flremen."
At the foot OF Dearbcm street, between
South Water street and the river, Is a shaft
about sixty feet deep, whore the gas-main Is
carried under the river. It 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 as usual,
but did not wait long enough for the
accumulated gas to escape. While engaged
" work ho was overcome by tho gas
and fell half suffocated on the bottom.
It was fully 1880 before bis absence was
noticed, and then the alarm was sent TO the
house OF No. 10 near by. The eshrCmen turned
out with long ropes and lanterns. The condi-
ton 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 Gov, young man Of nineteen, had
arrived at the shaft. A rope was tied around
bis body, and, with q foreman named Shay,
be was lowered into the shaft. When the two
were about twenty feet frOm the bottom
pieroing cry was heard, and on pulling up, It
was found that the boy had fallen from tho
rope, and that Shay was overcome with the gas.
BY this time 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 were too weak
ened to grasp the ropes let down into the aw-
full darkness. 1t seemed as II 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 air. The Lam
terms went down a little further, but the groans
were almost dying out. Another son attempt-
ed TO rescue his father and brother, but he,
too, was brought up stiiled.
Finally some one had good idea. A calcium
| light was procured from the Olympic Theater
and its strong light was directed down the
shaft. Then the crowd could sec the father
| lying on his face, and his son with his face
turned upward-both apparently dead Maxi
ing another test with the lanterns developed
! the IuCt tnuJ inc smart was Delng Clcufeu OF inc
deadly escaping gas. Then was the time for
| volunteers. There was a short silence, and
then Lieutenant Thomas Pumphry, of Com
pany No. 10, said; I'm 60" A rope was
fastened about him, and, putting a silk hand
| kerchief in his mouth, he rapidly descended
the ladder leading down the shaft. His mo
tlous were watched eagerly. He fastened the
rope about tie boy. The crowd pulled eager
| ly, and the unconscious boy was brought TO
the upper world. Then the hero Pumphry
made another trip and similarly brought UP
the father. The son was easily brought to,
| and was found to have sustained but few In
iurios, comparatively. The case Of the father
| was more difficult. lie had been four hours in
the shaft and was absolutely filled with gas.
! For long time It was a struggle between lifo
and death. The firemen chafed his hands,
slapped his bare feet and partially restored
him with cold water. Dr. Arndt finally ar
rived, and succeeded In roviving him suili'
ciently to allow Of the removal of the two to
their home, No. l22 Kinzio street.
Engine Company No. 10 has hero.-ChicdgO
/ Tribune.