The Bryan eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1880-1913, 1911-05-25
WASAT BOTTOM OF SIXTEEN FOOT CUT
WHEN BANKS FELL IN COVERING
HIM SEVERAL FEET UNDER
LOOSE DIRT.
GREAT EXCITEMENT PREVAILED FOR SOME Time
Heroic Efforts of LaborerS and Men in Charge
Removed the Dirt Just in Time to
Save His Life.

AL L. ~ U ClOCh rIludy dlltiHOoh tHV
first real serious accident in the sewer
construction work occurred, and it
came very close to resulting in the
loss of a human life The banks of
the deep ditch being dug in Bryan
street Immediately in the rear of W..
E. Saunders store caved, catching one
of the laborers, a Mexican named
Demetrio Ruiz, covering him several
feet under the loose earth.
The cut where the cave-in occurred
is 16 feet inches deep, and Ruiz and
another Mexican, Juan Martinez, were
Immediately under the falling dirt.
Martinez managed to escape, but Ruiz
was pinioned and held fast. Fortunate
ly, however, he was in standing posi-
ton. and this fact no doubt prevented
the heavy earth from crushing the
life out of him.
Mr.. Lewis, who is in charge of the
work, was away at another point in
the work when the accident occurred,
but was on the scene in very few
moments and personally directed tho
work of rescue. He was ably assisted
by Mayor Maloney, and be it said to
the everlasting credit of every work
man present, both MeXicans and ne
groes, more heroic work was never
seen and their efforts could not posi-
bly, have been surpassed had their own
lives been at stake.
One squad threw the loose dirt from
where the man was supposed to be
up onto the second landing and an
other squad threw it from there TO the
surface above. A large crowd soon
gathered and watched with eagerness
every shovel full of dirt removed.
After what seemed hours in the
tenseness of the moment, a hole was
struck that ran down beside the up
right beam used for cribbing, and the
man was heard hallooing below. The
fact that he was alive gave new hope
ard the workmen redoubled their eff
forts. At this point Mayor Maloney
ard Foreman Lewis went into the
ditch and Selling shovels worked like
Trojans until overcome by sheer eX-
haustion. In few more minutes the
top of the mans hat was seen and a
Mexican laborer, Antonio GutieuWs
Jumped into the hole and began tear
ing away the dirt with his bare hands
Fate was on the imprisoned mans
side, and the first part of his body
uncovered was his face and in a mo
ment after the air struck him smile
of joy lit up his face Guitieuvis was
the hero of the hour, and the digging
scratching and removing the dirt il
every way possible never stopped unit
he was liberated.
DR.. w. H. Oliver was present anC
had everything in readiness for the
work of resuscitation had it been nee
essary. After his head had been un
covered some fire or ten minutes DR.
Oliver consented for him TO have some
water, for which he was begging, ant
when a cup full was handed down fol
him, he drank it with all the eagernesi
that he would had it been the rea
water of life" itself.
Slowly the dirt was removed unit
his body was free to the hips when {
cable was placed around his body anC
with several men pulling, and one mai
holding each arm, he was slowly draw
out and up into life, sunshine, and III,
pure air of heaven. The crowds Wild,
cheered and the rescued man smile,
with joy and fervently embraced Gu
tieuvis. the man who fought so va