David Andrews rescued John F. Bell from a cave-in in a well, Snow Hill, Alabama, January 24, 1952. A mass of sand and cribbing fell from the walls of a well 42 feet deep while Bell, 34, farmer, was at work on the bottom, and he was buried in debris as the well filled for 10 feet. A man with a rope tied securely to him descended to Bell but could uncover only his head and was drawn out. More than 30 persons gathered at the well, but none would descend to Bell. Andrews, 67, farmer, arrived an hour and a half after the accident and volunteered to aid Bell. He was lowered 32 feet on a rope to near the top of the debris. Standing in a loop at the end of the rope to keep his weight off the fallen debris and carefully avoiding contact with the walls, Andrews repeatedly shoveled debris into a bucket, which was raised to the surface and emptied. He sawed a sapling wedged against Bell and within a half-hour uncovered him to below his shoulders. Sand again began failing and covered Bell’s head to a depth of six inches. Andrews hurriedly climbed upward on the rope. He lowered himself to the debris as the cave-in ceased and resumed digging and filling the bucket. He worked for more than an hour and freed Bell to his waist. A large section of sand suddenly fell, undermining the walls 20 feet below the surface. Bell was covered by sand which rose four feet above his head and became semiconscious. A metal tubing connected to an oxygen tank was lowered to Andrews. He inserted the tubing in the sand and pushed it close to Bell, who revived. Andrews again uncovered Bell’s head and with difficulty dug away sand and cribbing to his knees. It became dark in the well four hours after Andrews had entered; and an electric light was lowered, affording fair visibility. Aided by Andrews, Bell removed the debris surrounding his legs. Andrews tied a rope securely to Bell’s waist, and he was drawn from the well. Andrews, who had labored six hours in the well, ascended the rope to the surface. Bell was hospitalized six days. Andrews was greatly fatigued but recovered. 42490-3796
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42490-3796