Jake A. Cranfield died attempting to save D. C. Parker and William A. Parker from suffocation, Georgetown, Tennessee, September 7, 1935. William, 55, was overcome by gas in a well 47 feet deep. His son, D. C., 15, descended to get him but called he could not stand the gas, and while being drawn up on a windlass rope, he was overcome and fell to the bottom. Cranfield, 52, farmer, responding to cries, arrived at the well and was told what had occurred. He knew there was gas in the well. Replying to his wife, who begged him not to go down, that someone had to go, he was lowered with his foot in a loop of the rope. He tied the rope around D. C., who then was drawn out of the well. The rope was quickly lowered to Cranfield, but he was overcome and three hours later was taken out of the well by means of grappling hooks. William was pulled out a few minutes later. None of the three could be revived.
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