The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-09-11
Hours I'm q Well.
REMARKABLE RESCUE or CHILD FROM
DEATH.

REMARKABLE RESCUE OF CHILD fKOM
DEATH.
During the past few weeks, says the De-
,roYt Ne,rS. Mr.. James Wilson, Of near
Thamesyille. Ontario, has been endeavor-
inc 10 procure water on his place, and for
that PURPOSE drilled, st several points,
holes a foot in diameter and Of various
denibs. filing each up before another was
commenced. as soon as IL was evident wa
fer would not come. The last one drilled
was last week, when he sunk the drill fifty
feet Into this hole came some water, and
after time IL filed half way up with water
audmud, the latter reduced to soft consist
ency bv the former. Thinking. perhaps, the
desired effect might be reached, he decided
IA await further developments before ILL
ing this up, and try again. The family
hal little two-year-old boy PLAYING about
i'm the eo-as-vou-please style common in
eouniry door-yards, but suddenly the baby
was missed. Calling him and hunting Tor
him proved futile, until the father thought
Of the hole twelve inches in diameter. AS
a last resort, without really thinking the
child was there. he peered down the hole,
but OF course could see nothing. While
doing so, however, he thought he
heard the child's voice, and after several
moments Of anxious listening, be-
came satisfied he was Of the bottom, ut
least twenty-five feet below the surface, in
space Of such small circumference that
the possibility OF rescue was problem
The neighbors were appealed to for sug-
gestions. Among Others it was proposed
TO dig down TO the little one. but ii would
take two or three days. said one, and The
child might die mean time, while another
H.. 49, f..f H.
ing or killing the child by clods falling
upon him. Imagine the feelings OF the pa
rents while these and other plans were be-
ing discussed.
Finally colored man came up, and was
informed Of the catastrophe and dilemma.
He requested the use OF mirror, and
holding it above the hole. gazed into il
and saw the reflection Of the child at the
bottom. From the baby boys position,
he had evidently stepped into the hole, and,
with his clothing. bad filed ii so full as to
sink gradually, the air below offering re-
siStance enough 10 prevent any iniuriOusy
swift descent. The cOiOred man next asked
Tor a rope. on the end of which he made
loop large enough TO 90 over the child's head.
Then he procured wooden strips, which
be fastened strongly together until he had
one strip twenty-five feet or more in length.
He dropped the rope down the hole and
lowered the wooden strip. While another
person held the mirror above, the cOlored
man knelt by the opening. and. taking his
bearings by frequent observations in the
mirror, worked faithfully to place the loop
over the head OF the little one down in the
bowels OF the earth. Meantime a physician
had been sent for, that he might be at hand
in case Of need. Earnestly did the color
ed man try again and again to accomplish
his purpose, each failure only making
him the more determined to succeed, until
at last he got the loop over the back OF the
child's head and around Under his nose.
The pressure against the nose caused the
lite one to throw his head back as far as
possible, thus bringing the weight prinCi-
pally on the back OF the head, and IN this
position he was pulled up TO the surface.
The doctor examined him, and found him
little the worse for his remarkable eXpe-
rience, and he was then returned TO his
overioyed parents, and a proper guard
placed about the mouth OF the hole.