The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1908-02-07
In Effort Was Made to Draw Him
Out, But This Failed.

Haskell county, who, while visiting
school in an adjoining county as a
favor to a friend also superintend-
emit of schools, learned of an accident
In well that was being repaired two
miles distant and without moment Of
hesitation left the school and, run
ming the entire distance, succeeded,
after every other man there had re-
fused even to assist him, in saving the
life of one man and recovering the
body of another which had been buried
in two tons of sand 80 feet below the
surface of the ground.
The scene of the accident and heroic
rescue is on the farm of William H.
Num-, who was killed. about six
miles southwest of the village OF
Pierceville, Kan, through which the
Arkansas river winds its way.
On the southern side of the Arkan'
sas river is a chain of sand hills about
70 miles long, and it was in this forma-
ton the accident happened. The
Num- farm is located in about the GEN.
ter of these hills. A well u feet deep
had been drilled on this property
about a year previous and had be-
come clogged, although cased up with
twoinch pipe.
The sand point or screen had failed
to work properly for several days, and
an excavation about four feet square
was made with the we'll casing in one
corner Of the hole. There was no
platform at the top Of the well, but
derrick about 20 feet high had been
built over the opening. The e1caVa-
ton was not walled up and there was
no water at the 32-foot depth, where
the trouble was located The weather
was fair, with moderate temperature,
and the sun was shining brightly.
Rains during a few previous days mad
caused the sand to be very wet.
When William Num- decided to re-
pair his well he asked the assistance
Of Joseph H. King and W. K. Taylor
neighboring farmers. The sand point
used in clearing out the well had been
drawn to point at the bottom OF the
excavation where it stuck.
Num- and King had been WORKING
in the excavation the day previous
and when the sand point stuck they
We're also in the hole, while Taylor
was at the top operating a rope 10 tne
end of which was attached a small
sand box. On the afternoon OF the
day Of the accident Mr.. King said ne
would so to the top and get lille, ana
after separating a section of the cas-
Ing would file the sand point loose SO
that it would work properly.
Num- and King were standing TO-
gether at the bottom of the excavation
when King caught hold of the rope
and gave the signal to Taylor above
to draw him up. Suddenly and WIN
out the slightest warning about TWO
tons of sand caved in on the men.
The fall of sand struck Num- fairly
and buried him completely, and King
was buried up to his armpits, with MS
arms held against his body by the
weight of the sand.
There was no ladder, and, as there
was no one at the mouth OF the well
to lower him, Taylor, who was at the
top. was powerless to give assistance
although King, who could talk, was
begging for help. Taylor jumped Oh
his horse and rode rapidly away IN
search of assistance, and soon the
countryside was aroused and was hur'
rying to the scene of the accident, put
despite Kings cries and pleas for heip
there was no one who would venture
aoWn to the rescue.