River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-08-02
TAkEN ERoM IHE WEI.
Anderson Saved After Nine Days-Tfs
Nebraska Man Who Was Buried AliSs
Rescued at Last by His Neighbors.

Anderson saved AFTER Nine Days-Ths
Nebraska Man Who Was Buried Alive
Rescued at Last by His Neighbors.
JoHNsTowN, Neb.. July 30.-John Ander-
son has been rescued The treacherous
well has been forced 20 give up the man
held captive for nine days. AS soon as there
was bit Of daylight Saturday morning the
work Of rescue was resumed with renewed
courage and determination. The men were
desperate and resolved to bring Anderson
out alive or perish in the attempt. All the
arrangements had been completed during
the night and the rescuers were prepared
for a supreme and final effort. A small
box, eighteen inches long and ten
by eleven inches square, open ct
both ends and thoroughly soaped in
side, was lowered TO the boards that were
protecting him. When a hole was made
large enough the box was slipped through.
At 10 o'clock Anderson, after pulling
on all his clothes. tied a rope
under his arms and holding his
hands straight above his head was
pulled through the box and fnally
released from his prison. With cheerful
shout the men in the well who handled the
rope sent the news to the watchers on the
ground above. The crowd went wild with
JOY, and men laughed, cried and
threw up their hats at the same time. The
rescuers and rescued were then drawn 70
the surface by willing hands, Anderson in
the meantime having been furnished with
clothes and given stimulants. After reach
ing the top Anderson was carried 20 the
house, although he asked TO be allowed TO
walk, and placed under doctors care. The
doctors report him doing well and are con
fident that he will soon be restored to
health. Although showing the effects of
his unfortunate accident he does not look
so emaciated as was expected
After Anderson was taken into the house
the crowd gave three cheers for Henry
Archer and George Campbell, the men
who took him from the well. These men
were so overcome with fatigue and JOY
that when the men began to congratulate
them they wept like children. SO intense
has been the excitement and sym
patty for the unfortunate man that bust
ness of all kinds had been very much
neglected. Farmers left their fields and
merchants their stores and fiocked TO the
scene of the accident, offering to lend a
helping hand. The women have shown their
willingness to help, also, by cooking and
sending food TO the workers. Although
the rescuIng party did all in their power.
Anderson never would have been saved
but for his own efforts. He planned and
INC Aast lho ud1S u AdboEs anu
all the while he was imprisoned never was
heard to utter complaint.
when Anderson fell into the well on July IS
he was engaged in repairing the curb. Sud
denly. by an unlucky blow Of his pick, he
caused the earth, which was very sandy, TO
cave in. He discovered his danger in time
TO raise an alarm, and neighbors started
TO draw him up. After he had been
raised twenty-five feet a second cage-in oc-
CURED, which stopped the well up entirely.
large force OF men at once began TO dig beside
the old well, but, after working four days and
nights, the conclusion was reached that
Anderson was dead. They continued work.
however, and on Monday Anderson signaled
that he was yet alive by cutting the rope
that held the bucket The diggers reached
within ABOUT three feet Of the imprisoned man
and were able 10 communicate with him. He
informed them that he was all right and asked
them TO be careful On the same night the
well began caving again. and the curbng sank
about one foot The diggers were frightened
out of the well, but almost Immediately went
back again, and found Anderson all right he
asked them to save him IL possible, but not 10
take too many chances. II IS about 100 feet TO
the bottom OF the well. and from this space he
obtained ar, getting the only water that he
had for fiye days by sucking the rotten but
Water-soaked planks.