Edward A. Kaelin, 39, clerk, saved Ora L. Dick, 31, and John T. Dick, 14, school-boy, from suffocation, Valley Grove, West Virginia, August 5, 1937. While climbing a crude ladder in a well 25 feet deep in which dynamite had been exploded earlier in the day, John was overcome by gas and fell to the bottom. His father descended but immediately felt the effects of gas and left the well to get help. His mother, Ora L. Dick, descended the ladder to John and was overcome. A strong ladder 20 feet long was brought and lowered to the bottom. Kaelin went to the well, and one of four men told him that black-damp was in it. A canvas strap was buckled around Kaelin’s waist; and a rope, which passed through a pulley above the well, was tied to the strap. Kaelin descended the crude ladder to the strong ladder and descended thereon to Mrs. Dick. He buckled a strap around her waist and then removed the rope from himself and tied it to the strap at her back. Mrs. Dick then was hoisted from above, Kaelin climbing the ladders and keeping his shoulder against her. Half way to the top the strap slipped; Kaelin adjusted the strap and rope; and she was hoisted to the surface, Kaelin again following with his shoulder against her. Kaelin was winded and weak. Five minutes later, no person having offered to rescue John, Kaelin descended to him, the rope again being fastened to the strap around his waist. Kaelin fastened a strap around John, removed the rope from himself, and tied it to the strap; and John was hoisted to the surface, Kaelin following and holding his shoulder against him. John and his mother recovered. Kaelin was nauseated.
36519 – 3033
36519-3033