Francis Traill Hodges, 24, fairst-aid man, saved Charles M. Wood, 23, mail carrier, and attempted to save E. Ray Ashby, 14, schoolboy, from suffocation, New Castle, Indiana, October 23, 1931. Hodges arrived in an automobile after air had been pumped into the well for 15 minutes. Although he was warned that it would be suicidal for him to enter, he insisted upon entering. He refused to put on a smoke mask, because he thought it would be a hindrance. He was lowered to the bottom, and with an end of a rope that was attached to the windlass rope, he tied Wood against himself and against the windlass rope. He breathed sparingly. He clasped his arms around Wood, and they were raised to the surface. Hodges took a few breaths and was again lowered to the bottom and tied Ray to another rope, and Ray was raised to the surface. Hodges was then pulled up. He was slightly affected by the gas. (See case of PAUL J. BURNS.)
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