West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-08-09
BURIED ALIVE.
HE WILL NEVER FORGET 1T.
John Anderson Tells How Ho Lived
Nine Days i'm the Well.

John Anderson, Of Johnstown. Neb., was
AT the bottom OF seventy fve foot well
making some repairs ten days ago, when the
sides OF the orifice caved in and imprisoned
him. An alarm was immediately sent
throuSaout the ne '-hb9rhaad. and ,s,.a~ -s-
semeled from far and near 10 assist ia hu,s'-
ating him. For eight DAYS over one hun
dred sturdy neighbors labored 10 accomplish
TINS END, but it was only on the ninth that the
excaVators got within sound ofthe imprisoned
man voice. "A dispatch dated ON the day OF
ms rescue gives the following particulars:
over one hundred feet OF lumber were
used IN the construction OF the framework
by means OF which he was 10 be rescued He
was perfectly cheerful throughout, in spite
VI V1o,i ms ,srrioie err situation, and directed the
ne would be rescued the day before, but when
the sun went down it was found impossible
oo get light TO him so that he could see TO
work. lt was accordingly decided TO wait
for daylight
AT daylight tho work was resumed with re-
moved courage and determination. A box
eighteen inches long and ten by eleven inches
square, open at both ends and thoroughly
soaped inside, was lowered to the boards that
were protecting him. I'm this covering a
hole was cut ana the box was slipped through
Al ten O'Clock Anderson, after pulling oil his
Clothes, tied a rope under his arms and holding
his hands straight above his head, was pul cd
through the box and finally released from
his prison.
Before raising him 10 tho open air his
clothes were put on and stimulants were ad-
ministered. After reaching the top of the
ground he shook hands with his rescuers and
tried TO think them, but could only say:
tod bless you, boyslh when his vo.ce was
choked
There wsre two hundred people present.
and there were very few dry eyes amonn
them. He was at once carried TO the farm
mousse and placed under the care OF two
After he was taken into tho house the
crowd gave three cheers for Henry Archer
and George Campbell, the men who took
MN from the We'll They were so overcome
with fatigue and JOY that when the crowd
began congratulating them they were like
children. There is as much rejoicing as N
Anderson had been brother % every .sarson
IN tbs community. SO intense was tho eN-
element and anxiety that farmers left their
helds and merchants their stores and flocked
TO the scene OF the accident Every day
supplies wero sent 20 the workers from
private residences and stores and the
women were unceasing in their kindly offices.
But although the rescung party did all in
their power, Anderson would never have
been saved but for his own efforts. He
planned and directed the work during the
last two days
The rescued man in relating his experience
says that when the boards ana sand closed I'm
over him, lac was crowded into a box about .
feet square and with not room for him 10
stand erect. Ho could not get on his knees
nor sit down.
About the first three days. SAYS Ander.
son, II got along very we'll but after that |
began TO want water badly. The fourth
day when IL rained I heard what I
thought was water slowly dropping. Feeling
around found IL and holding NV mouth
open managed In this way TO get about n
dozen drops of water which gave me much
relief. had no difficulty in breathing until
the we'll below me came so near being filled
by sand occasionally coming in caused by the
diggers above.
Having n supply OF chewing tobacco / did
not suffer so much for food as might have
been expected. From the beginning could
hear considerable that was said and done
above. heard the wagon when IL started 10
town for lumber and heard some one say U,e
man is dead and the order given to try TO null
my box out When they began TO pull knew
there was great danger of the boards giving
way and crushing me, and for my own safety
ana TO give eyidence OF being alive, ! cut the
ropes and heard the exciting talk that
prevailed when II was discovered that ! was
awe. It was music TO me, and from that
timo on was hopeful Of being rescued
About tho sixth day / felt something
crawling on my hand aud found IL TO be n
fly. thought by this that an opening had
been made from above. i was correct for
soon wet rag was passed 20 me. IL was
covered with sand, but no honey ever tasted
better than the moisture in thatra Soon n
bottle OF water and piece OF bread were
gwen me. -