Herbert G. Piercy, 21, laborer, died helping to save Stephen Melnick, 23, laborer, from suffocation, Sydney, Nova Scotia, July 11, 1950. While working in a manhole 12 feet deep that was connected by sewers to a coke oven battery discharging gaseous waste products, Melnick became dizzy and in attempting to climb a ladder to the surface fell to the bottom and lay inert. Piercy was attracted by shouts of other workers and ran 100 feet to the manhole. He descended the ladder with a handkerchief around his face and tied the end of a rope lowered from the surface around Melnick’s waist. Piercy signaled for Melnick to be raised and began to ascend the ladder. Near the top he became limp, lost his hold on the ladder, and fell to the bottom, his neck being twisted violently. Melnick, who was unconscious, was pulled from the manhole. A millwright ran 450 feet to the manhole and descended the ladder. He took hold of Piercy around the waist and attempted to carry him up the ladder, but a rung broke, causing him to lose his balance. By that time he felt the effects of the gas, and his arms and legs were numb. As he lost his balance, he also lost his hold on Piercy. The millwright climbed slowly and unsteadily to the top of the ladder, where he lost consciousness. A man obtained a hold on him and pulled him from the manhole. Other men soon arrived at the manhole, and a man who was protected by a gas mask and a rope tied securely to him descended to Piercy. He tied the end of another rope around Piercy and climbed the ladder as Pierey was drawn up. Piercy was dead. Melnick and the millwright were revived. 3686-42045
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