Evening star., 1930-10-30
AMBULANCE DRIVER
lis HELD IN DEATH
|OF 9yEAR-OLD BOY
Going to Aid Youth Trapped
in Well When Tragedy
Occurred.
VICTIM OF CAVE-IN
SUFFERING FROM SHOCK
Rescued After Being Entombed
Under 20 Tons of Stone Al
most Five Hours.
Louis Barrett, 19-year-old Montgom-

Louis Barrett, 19-year-old Montgom-
cry County carpenter, was recovering
today nom the shock of being buried
in a well near Glenmont yesterday
while police placed a charge of man.
slaughter against an ambulance driver
who ran down and killed a 9-year-old
boy while speeding to Barrett's as
sistance.
The boy, William Nichols, jr., son
of caretaker at the White Flint Coun-
try Club, had just returned home from
the Garrett Park School. With COM
panion, he was crossing Rockville pike
when the ambulance hit and hurled
him almost so feet witnesses said
The other youth leaped to safety.
Reuben Carlisle, driver of the am
bulance, owned by Reuben Pumphrey
Of Rockville, was later arrested by Po-
liceman Harry Merson. He will be
Court on the manslaughter charge.
One of Shoes Torn OF.
Passersby said the force of the i'm
pact tore off one of the boys shoes
and tossed it onto the front porch Of
a store beside the highway.
Carlisle stopped the ambulance and
took young Nichols first to physicians
home in Bethesda and later to George
nounced dead
Barrett was entombed about noon
yesterday beneath some 20 tons of stone
at the bottom Of a 35-foot well on the
Hull farm near the Glenmartin-
Colesville pike. He was dug out and
raised by ropes under his armpits.
almost five hours later, by members of
the KenSington Volunteer Fire Depart
ment's rescue squad.
When the heavy stone retaining walls
descended on Barrett he lodged under
the ladder close to the side of the well
and managed to protect his head by
hoding it beneath the rungs.
He was removed in q semi-conscious
condition due to exposure and shock,
although there were no broken bones
or head injuries.
Offered to Aid Father.
The abandoned well was located on a
knoll not far from the home where
young Barrett lived with his father.
William Barrett, a tenant farmer, and
his mother, Mrs. Mary Barrett.
Louis had day of from his car
penter work and offered to help his
father put the well back in condition.
The son lowered a 20-foot ladder into
the WELL settled 1t on a ledge not far
While he was at work his father,
standing above. saw the stone retain
ing wall begin to crumble.
Get close to the wall, Louis" he
shouted, hurry"
Louis ducked to shelter just as the
stone descended filling the well with
heavy powders to within q few feet of
the surface.
II took one look" the elder Barrett
said, land I knew I couldn't do any
thing for my boy by myself" The
father summoned Louis mother, and
together they ran to the highway, stop
ping passing motorist who called the
flremen.
Work was begun few minutes later,
with Joseph p. Rainey of the volunteer
squad in the narrow well loading wash
tubs with stone, which were hauled out
by ropes. Later Rainey was relieved
by Oscar HERMAN of Silver Spring
and Eugene stubbs Of the rescue squad.
Surrounded BY Heavy Stone.
Menaced by heavy stones ct the top
Of the well which fell into the pit from
time to time, the men succeeded, after
toiling more than four hours, in uncov-
ering Barrett's head. The youth was
completely surrounded by heavy stone,
although the ladder shielded him from
most OF the pressure.
At one time the level Of the stone on
which f1remen were working dropped
five feet into the well and it was feared
Barrett would be forced into three feet
of water in the bottom and drowned.
A faint cry from Barrett reassured the
rescuers, however, and work was begun
again.
When Barrett's head was uncovered,
DR.. Eugene Jones prepared q stimulant
and lowered 1t into the well. The youth
revived somewhat but collapsed again
when he was finally hauled out.
DR.. Jones said Barrett'S robust con-
stitution and excellent heart action ap-
parently had saved his life. He had
enough air, but the stone and earth
had forced him into a cramped posi-
ton and he had to resist the pressure
for several hours.
Spends Restless Night.
Barrett was given first aid and re-
moved to his home. There he was
picked up in a second ambulance and
taken to Montgomery County General
Hospital at Sandy Spring.
Barrett spent a restless night last
night, although he did not lose con-
sciousness. He is still suffering from
exposure and shock as well as numer-
GUS bruises about the body. An X-ray
photograph will be taken today to de-
termine If he has any fractured bones.
Several hundred passersby collected
at the mouth of the well while the res
cue work was in progress and police
had brisk work keeping them from i'm
peding the efforts of the f1remen.