Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-10-23

iseS of Edward BlanCnard1 In srne MOTH i
stonington road nearly caused the |
death, of two men Friday afternoon.
but they were resuscifated by the |
timely applianceSof a lung motor oper-
ated by DIR. NJ. J. ScanIon, coupled |
with the heroic act OF A. ]. Holmes, |
one Of the two men who suffered from
suffocation.
This well had been dry for a long
time and two weeks ago an unsuccess-
full attempt was made TO cause water |
to flow into the well by unique
method A box was filled with shaw |
ings saturated with gaselene and her.
meticaIly sealed. 1t was then lowered
to the bottom Of the well, q distance
of 35 feet, connected with fuse to
the surface of the ground and after
the mouth of the well was closed, the
fuse was ignited. The theory was
that when an explosion took place,
seams would be opened at the bottom
of the we'll and water would how: The
explosion took place as planned. but
the well remained dry.
Mr.. Blanchard decided. to drive pip
ing into the earth below the bottom of
the well, on the artesian plan, in the
hope of getting water by that method
and was to do the work Friday. Dam.
iel Sullivan was engaged to assist.
Two ladders were dashed together and
reached the bottom of the well and
Mr.. Sullivan went down the ladder
| to 1nVGStl2aJe. ~ nGn ne came up ne
reported q strong smell Of gas in the
we'll Mr.. Blanchard advised him not
to go down in the well again unless
rope was tied around him and held
by those on the surface, so that he
could be hauled to safety II required.
Mr.. Sullivan scoffed at the idea. and,
taking a crowbar he descended the
ladder He was in the well but a
short time when those above could
get no response from him.
At this juncture DR.. Scanlon ar
rived and qupite a crowd had collect
ed at the well. Mrs. Govan. who re-
sides nearby. came with a mirror to
reflect the sunlight down the well. Mr.
Sullivan could be plainly seen. He
was lying down and seemed to be
gasping for. breath. Dr. Scanlon tel
lsephoned to the Westerly Light and
1 Power company for the lung motor
and the life-saving apparatus was at
hand in remarkably quick time, being
delivered by automobile
/ In the meantime A. J. Holmes who
| resides on the Frifk farm, arrived
Just as soon as he ascertained the sit
/ uation he started down the ladder,
/ but was so overcome by gas that he
/ returned. He insisted on risking his
| life to save the life of another. A
L rope was tied under his arms and
4 down the ladder he went, carrying a
Il chain. to put around Mr.. Sullivan,
those above keeping the rope taut. He
H fastened Sullivan, who. was uncon-
Fl scious to himself by means of the
chain and then started up the ladder,
encountered by the dead weight OF
Sullivan. When within about Is feet
of the well opening Mr.. Holmes was
overcome and he fell from the ladder,
while willing hands on the end of the
rope hauled the rescuer and the res
ciled to the surface. n
Il Both men were completely overcome
but the condition. of MIR. Sullivan was
even worse than tina of Mr.. Holmes
tier Mr.. Holmes was revived. which
was within few minutes, the lung
motor was operated on Mr. Sullivan
and in the course of half an hour he
was enabled to breathe freely and
naturally without the aid of the lung
motor. His complete recovery is ex-
peeted within a short time.
1t was suggested that Mr.. Holmes
act. of true heroism be reported to
the Carnegie commission for consider
alton, and his only response was:
Nothing doing; it is the duty of ev-
cry man to help his fellow man wher
/ in distress; only did my duty; that's
ALL"
/. Mr.. Holmes was a former resident
of New London, is about so years Of
: age and was for several years en-
ployed as locomotive engineer.
J George p. Fenner. president ans
treasurer of the Babeock Printing
Press Manufacturing company. in New
London, who was killed in an auto
mobile crash near that city, Thursda!
night, spent the first half of his Ef
in Westerly and vicinity. Mr.. Femme
: was nephew of the late Nathan Bah
cock, who was a member of the loca
firm of Cottrell e. Babcock, nov
n known as the c. B. Cottrell Sons com
: pany and was craftsman in tn
# local press concern. Mr.. Babcock end
= | ed work with. Mr. Cottrell in the print
| ing press business about 80 years ag
a l and established the present Babcoc
Il Printing Press Manufacturing com
9 pany. associating with him George
= Fenner and Charles B. Maxson. Whe
= Mr. Babcock died, Mr. Fenner sue
!, urership. Mr.. Maxson in the meantinl
left the company and at the preser
time Wilfred d. Wells, brother of Mr.
" Charles 3. Maxson. is secretary of til
: Babcock company and with Mr.. Fer
ner managed the large business fc
. several years.
Mr. Fenner was the son of the lat
N Charles A. Fenner. well known shi
joiner in this section. Mr.. Fenner
/ wife was Miss Annie C. Smith, WI
1 taught school in the old Palmer sire
II schoolhouse. Besides his wife, M
\ Fenner is survived by a daughte
Miss Mildred Fenner. Mr.. Fenner he
1 several near relatives in Westerly. !.
Ill Stephen Lanphere, fisherman 2,
Lower Pawcatuck, discovered the bee
of a colored boy in the PawcatuC
river in the rear of the Pendlett
store Friday morning. The body W,
secured and DR.. M. H. Scanlon. met
ical examiner. was summoned and
L permit was granted for the removal
Z the body, the examiner deciding TIL
4 death was due to accidental drownin