James F. Stroud, 37, stationary engineer, died attempting to save George V. Smith, 44, carpenter, from suffocation, San Antonio, Texas, April 14, 1917. (See case of GEORGE V. SMITH.) Stroud knew that Smith had refused to work in the well because of the gas. After Pugh and Stoddard had been drawn out, Stroud descended and partly tied a rope to Smith but was overcome. The pump had been stopped, and the water was then between two and three feet deep, but Smith and Stroud lay against the sides of the well with their heads above water. Smith was raised four feet, but the rope slipped from him and he fell back, his head going under water. A man was lowered on a rope and partly tied a rope to Stroud, but the man was then overcome and drawn out. Stroud fell back when an effort was made to draw him out, and his head went under the water. Another man was lowered on a rope but was overcome and drawn out. Smith and Stroud were then taken out by means of iron rods with hooked ends, but efforts to revive them with pulmotors were fruitless. 17936-1371
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17936-1371