Ansel Jeems rescued Grover C. Mackey from a cave-in in a well, Salley, South Carolina, February 16, 1945. While Mackey, 36, was working at the bottom of an old well 50 feet deep, cribbing broke at one side, and sliding sand covered Mackey, who was standing with raised arms, to his armpits. Two men at the surface attempted to pull him free by means of a windlass-rope, but Mackey could not be moved. Twenty persons gathered at the well, but none would enter to render aid. Jeems, 64, farmer, who had been in the well six months previously and knew the cribbing was unsafe, then arrived. It was dark. Holding a lantern and a shovel, Jeems was lowered astride a bucket to the bottom. At his request, two new boards, which were the length of the side of the cribbing, were lowered. Jeems carefully placed the boards on edge, one above the other, in the opening and shoveled sand from the well behind the boards to hold them upright. He then shoveled sand into the bucket and sent it to the top. After working for three hours, he had cleared the sand from Mackey to points just below his knees. The remaining sand was wet and heavy. Jeems removed more sand with his hands, cut Mackey’s shoelaces with his pocketknife, and pulled him free. Mackey was slowly drawn to the top on the bucket. The bucket then was lowered to Jeems, and he was raised. Mackey was unable to stand, but he recovered. 40387-3464
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40387-3464