The morning call., 1892-06-17
ENTOMBED NINE HOURS.
Buried Alive In the Bottom of a Well in
New York.
New York Press, June 4

New York Press, June T.
Jacob Heeb, proprietor of a small candy
store on the Hoffman boulevard in Newton,
l.. l., had an awful experience yesterday,
which almost cost him his life. He was en-
tOmbed for nine hours at the bottom Of a
well. 80 feet deep. beneath a mass of earth,
which had eaved in upon him. Heeb is a
locksmith and machnist. but through lack
OF work at his trade he accepted an offer
from SalOOn-keeper Charles Lang on
Maiden lane to dig q well in front of the
latter's premises. He began work about -
days ago and was aided by two men. The
sides of the well he had shOred I'D with
boards as the work progressed. and tw ice
before this terrible experience yesterday he
narrowly ESCAPED having the upper part of
the well cave in upon him.
AT 8 80 o'clock yesterday morning Heeb
and his two German labOrers resumed work
in the well. Heeb was anxious to complete
the job at the end Of this week. He was
lowered to the bottom of the well, depth
of 80 feet. Heeb did the digging at the bot
tom Of the well and filled the buckets,
which were drawn up by means Of ropes by
the two labOrers.
The well was located about 80 feet from
the track of the Long Island Railroad.
About o'clock a heavy freight train, while
passing, shook the earth and caused the
We'll To cave IN upon Heeb, who was at work
at the bottom William Manwaring. an ex-
pert well-dgger, happened TO be passing at
the time, and he at once set to work to eX-
tricate the entombed man from his perilous
position. The two German lab0rers had
stood for several minutes without doing
anything and seemed to be paralyZed VITA
fright. Man warng found that the boards
which had been used to shore up the well
had fallen in such position with the earth
as TO form complete tomb over Heeb.
There was, however, an opening through
which Manwaring could hear Heeb groan-
ing.
Manwaring sent for assistance, and in a
few minutes at least 90 men were at the
scene Offering to render assistance. Mean
time Manwaring shouted down to Heeb
through the opening and finally got a re-
sponse from him. With much difficulty
ManWarng learned from the imprisoned
man that his legs were in the sand, but
his head and body were protected by the
boards which had fallen above him. He
shouted TO the rescuers 10 lower something
TO MIN quickly. A box was lowered through
the opening to Heeb. which he placed over
his head to keep the sand from falling on
him. A long pipe was then lowered and
air was pumped through this pipe.
A HEROIC PASTOR.
Among the first to begin the work of res
cue was Rev. j. Mailman, pastor of the
NewtOwn Presbyterian Church. Mr.. Mali
man Is an athletcal!y buiIt young man, and
When ne realized what had occurred he
threw OFF his coat, and when he found lie
could get no shovel with which to work
started to dig out the sand with his hands.
There were some who did not know him
and he was ordered to get away.
Every grain of dirt helps" said be, and
continued to dig away. 1t was not until
aboat 4 80 p. NJ. that the man was reached
Rev; Mr.. Mailman was the first to lay hands
on Heeb. The latter, although conscious,
was exhausted. The minister lifted Heeb
out OF the sand, and, fastening a rope about
him, gave the signal for the men al the top
10 hoist them both up.
DR.. A. c. Combes was present and as