Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-02-26
fort to the woman I strl loved by re-
storing her husband to her.

storing her husband to her.
When reached Chaplain l found a
man waiting for me at the station
with carriage, in which we drove
at gallop to the reservoir. On the
way he told me that Granger had beeL
sent down to examine the outflow of
water from beneath and while doing
so had got caught In the powerful sue
ton at the orifice through which the
flood was escaping. Air was being
pumped to him, but II had not been
possible to draw him up. Two differ
ent men had been sent down to fix
about him rope strong enough to
bear his weight and overcome the sue
ton, but neither of them had dared go
near him for fear of being sucked
into the same position as he. 1t was
upon this information that l realized
fully that Mabel had called upon me
TO probably sacrifice my life In at
tempting to save that of her husband.
On reaching the scene of the trou-
BILE the group there all turned toward
me. Mabel was present, and when
Cgts AhCI htA5 W as ~ a tVco w
understand the expression there was
in them. l had expected TO see pa
thetic appeal. Whether she realized
that such an appeal would be asking
me to risk my own life, perhaps give
It, for her husband, | did not know,
nor do know now. She simply looked
at me. Perhaps she considered her
telegram an appeal which should not
be repeated.
l put on divers outfit, and two
inch cable was looped under my arms.
| was lowered some distance from the
hole through which the water was flow
ing and walked toward 1t till l began
to slightly feel the suction. | stopped
and saw Granger lying partly across
the hole. After a few moments
thought / signaled to be brought to
the surface. On reaching 1t ] called
for another two inch rope-besides the
one under my arms-looped at the end.
would have preferred wire rope, but
1t was not at hand
what are you going to do?" / was
asked.
There's no way to save him but
60 into the suction myself, place the
rope under his arm and signal you to
draw us both up
You'll both PERISH was the re-
Spouse.
Mabel was looking at me, and my
eyes met hers. We understood each
other, though not word was spoken.
But what, passed between usf All,
that only we and the Lord knowl
Hanging the loop of the duplicate rope
on my shoulder. went down again. l
had advanced but few inches nearer
to Granger than before when | was
caught in the suction, and 1t seemed
that mountain was on me. l was
pulled down on to him, and so strong
was the current that l could not move
the rope from my shoulder to put 1t
around him. The only motion / could
make was a lateral one with the cur
rent. Placing my hands and knees
against him. / managed to move my
body so that my shoulder, on which the
rope reste1 was near the top of Gran
gers head. moved so that 1t slipped
off, and by a great effort guided 1t so
that 1t went down over his head. He was
lying on his back, and 1t would go no
farther, but ! managed to insert my
knee between him and the masonry
beneath him, and this enabled me to
slip the rope down nearly to his waist.
By a succession of efforts got it be-
low both hands, so that when moved
back again toward his armpits 1t left
the arms free.
/ had now done all could do. The
question remained would the rope
stand the strain Of hosting him-would
he live till this question was decided?
AS to myself, only the first Of these
questions pertained. / was In my full
strength. Granger just before my sec
ond descent had made feeble pull on
the cord.
I gave the signal and waited for the
final act in the play for two lives. /
felt a strain on the rope under my
arms which soon grew to be terrific. I
sigpaled on Changers cord. The strain
on me ceased, and the rope under him
frightened. For time / saw no move
ment in him; then could discern one
similar, to the minute hand of clock.
He was slowly sliding away from over
the hole. If he were removed and re-
manned l would be sucked into his
position.
A machine on the capstan principle
had been provided which would enable
those above TO pull us both up If the
ropes would stand the strain. pulled
my OWL, rope and Changers at the
same time. There was halt. and In
few minutes the strain on both of US
recommended. The ropes slanted. and
we very slowly began to move horizon
tally. l knew from the strain, which
was intensely painful, that only the
stoutest rope could stand it. We
moved so slowly that i would not have
known we moved at all had not noted