New-York tribune., 1896-01-13
UNDER TONS OF ROCK.
JAMES SHERWOOD RESCUED AFTER
EIGHTEEN HOURS IN A CAvE-IN.

THE VICTIMS LIFE ALMOST M1RACuLOUsLY PRE-
sERvED-HE is NOW IN A HOSPITAL AND is
BELIEVED TO BE FATALLY INJURED.
Franklin. Jan. IL (SpeciaD.-James sherwood. who
entombed in a well the outskirts OF this
place Saturday afternoon, rescued about $50
o'clock this morning after having passed eighteen
hours in a most uncomfortable predcament. To all
appearances he not much the worse for his ex-
perience. but in order that he might have proper
he sent to St Michaels Hospital In New
ark. At a late hour last night the doctors said
there was strong probability that the man was
internally injured but TO what extent they could
not say at that time He in much worse con-
dition than when he admitted and some doubts
were entertained for his recovery.
Men worked with more vgor than did those
who were trying to extricate sherwood from his
unpleasant predicament When the sides OF the well
caved In there only two persons present be-
sides Mrs. SCHNEIDER, who lives with her husband on
the farm. Without a moments delay, Mrs. Schin-
dler sent to the hat factory about quarter of a
mile distant. and in response TO her message a
large number of the employees gathered to DO what
they could TO the mans life. Before anything
done those who standing near the well
heard the imprisoned beseechng them to come
to his aid Michael Kelly. who was working as as
sstant to sherwood, called back at the top Of his
voice that they would do all they could Hurry
up then" came the response from the well.
The first difficulty that the rescuerS nau I'D Coi-
tend with was the dangerous condition OF the well.
Every moment particles OF dirt and small pieces Of
stones were dropping on the tons OF rock that
separated the men from their unfortunate comrade.
Planks procured, and. as the work OF remov-
ing the rock progressed they were braced against
the sides of the hole. thus keeping the sides from
crumblIng In and smothering Sherwood. The
work. which started within few minutes of l
o'clock Saturday was kept up all day and all
night. on account of the peculiar way in which
the poor fellow smut in the stone ana dirt mad
to be carefully removed, false movement on
the part Of the rescung party would precip!tate
many tons OF rock TO the body OF the man below.
No implements OF any kind were used every par
tlcle of the immense mass being lifted out by
hand. Care had be exercised to keep the In
terstices between the free from dirt. In order
that sherwood might have sufficient air.
After seventeen hours had been passed and the
life-savers were almost exhausted, Albert Gehring
sending up the rock. were delighted to near lsh'-
woods voice apparently Just below DE Ds 81, st9h,,
II IT broken. The men, both OF whom have
had experience in rsscHns men under slnlIar n c,r
covered. and the crowd which stood about the well
seve a loud shout Of Welcome The worst was
over; but there was plenty Of work ahead. & isner n
position that he could move IT, and in calm
way he directed his comrades how to 40 about re-
moving the rock about his body and legs he heli
a lantern so that they could see and an hour later
tho last stone that held him was sent TO the top.
The rope by which sherwood had descended was
hanging by his side and II was tied about his body
and he, TOO. was sent TO the top
At that time he appeared to be uninjured' i bqt
weak from The strain 10 which he had been SUB
jeciel but the moment he reached the surface he
collapsed. He carried into the house. where
pr Phflhower OF Nutley who had been the
SCENE all night. gave him immediate attention.
After a few minutes sherwood regained conscious
ness and commeu ed 20 talk nationally. one oi MS
nrst qcstions was In regard to the sdfeIy OF heHy
who hbl been with him Just before the caVe-in
Aftef The patient had begun TO show signs OF re-
turning strength. pr. Phlhower asked him how
long h. thought he had been In the well Il don (
know" the reply. but N seemed AS though u
was years I've always been unfortunate. but |
believe this is the lucklest day of my ne.
The debris removed from the well makes 4 pile
OF rock AMI dirt twenty feet sluar. and four feet
hlgh. \ quariymau who saw II estimated that
there NAs AZ least eighty tons OF the mass. one OF
the reset party who was m the well A. me tine
whom sherwood nAs removed told The Tribune re-
porter that the Imprisoned man was standing with
his back against tho wall az fhe cave. All about
him We're large pieces OF rock. several OF Nhrh
welged in such a way "a 70 make an arcn
over his head. one pieco Weighing abou' l5 poun l.
pressed against hs head. and several more W"fe IN
such a position 20 kcep his arms pinonei until
his rcscers ached him. He had received only one
cut and that was of slight consequence -
The scene ~ fhc accident IS on the farm OF MIS-.
Moreaul. about half mile northwest ~ this town.
Richard SfAg"r. Mrs MOrelanls son-in-law, was
directing lshcrwood and Kelly In deepening the
we'll. AMI shortly before noon blast was fired
The mon thcu ate their dinner and lsaerwood re-
turned 20 the vel BEFORE he descended Siaser
went down and noticed that there vas danger OF
"A ctye-u. and h" warned the others not To- - down.
IshrrwouI. however. paid no attention. ana during
Sfarer'- ahs,nc. h. went down. y moment later
the sld.l cayel ln hurying him beneath foriy-sN
f..t ~ rock and earth sherwood IS about forty
ave years OH. and unmarried.