Arthur W. Phaup, 64, farmer, assisted in an attempt to save D. Elmo McKnight, 34, military navigator, from suffocation, Mount Sylvan, Texas, April 21, 1953. While on leave, McKnight was removing mud from the bottom of a well 50 feet deep in which a motor-driven pump had been operated; and he was overcome by carbon monoxide fumes given off by the motor. Visibility into the well was negligible. Phaup and another man at the surface called to McKnight but received no reply. Removing his shoes, Phaup straddled a short timber attached to the windlass rope, climbed through the narrow opening of an enclosure atop the well, was lowered to the bottom. Partly lifting McKnight, who was nearly 50 pounds heavier than he, Phaup tied the rope securely to McKnight and called for him to be drawn up. When the other man had raised McKnight 20 feet, Phaup became dizzy. Before he could call out for help, he collapsed in an unconscious condition. The other man drew McKnight to the top of the well and with much difficulty removed him from the enclosure. McKnight was inert and did not respond to artificial respiration. Police and others were summoned. Forty minutes after his entry into the well, Phaup regained consciousness. The rope was lowered, and he tied it to himself and was lifted to the surface. He and McKnight were rushed to a hospital. McKnight was pronounced dead. Phaup suffered from shock and was badly dazed and nauseated but recovered in 10 days. 42885-3902
42885 – 3902
42885-3902