Man is Buried Alive in Well, Dies at Rescue

1915

Pennsylvania Farmer Imprisoned Under Arch of Tons of Earth and Stone

Wheatsheaf, Pa. — Imprisonment for 18 hours under tons of earth in an old 32-foot well so seriously affected William Chapman of Wheatsheaf that he died a few minutes before he was dug out, after directing the efforts of rescuers for several hours. Physicians worked for an hour with a pulmotor and oxygen, but failed to revive Mr. Chapman. It is believed his heart failed when he felt the hand of the first rescuer to reach him and that death followed instantly.

Mr. Chapman was a farmer and was also employed as engineer in the workings of the Penn Sand & Gravel company of Tullytown. He was sturdy man of middle age, in excellent health.

Because of recent rains, Mr. Chapman was unable to work in the Penn quarries and determined to make some repairs in the well on the farm he had rented. He was descending the slippery wall when two large stones slipped from their places in the wall of the well and precipitated him to the bottom, following which the sides caved in on him. Mrs. Chapman, who was in the house, heard the crash and rushed to the well.

It is believed that when the wall of the well collapsed the stones formed an arch, thus saving Mr. Chapman from instant death. In his narrow prison he obtained air through crevices in the rocks and was able to make such sounds that his relatives and friends knew he was alive.

For 18 hours men worked in relays of four hours each removing earth and stones from the well. Several times they were driven from their task by cave-ins caused by heavy rains. Finally they were within a few feet of Mr. Chapman. He directed their efforts, took nourishment through a tube, spoke words of comfort to his wife and appeared to be both rational and sound.

Soon the workmen reached the last layer of stone. Some worked at the stone while others slipped their hands through crevices and supported Chapman. Even then he appeared to be able to help himself, but when the last rocks were removed and Chapman was taken from the well he was dead, having succumbed just as assurances safety reached him.