Nathan Duncan, 41, farmer and well digger, rescued William C. Anderson, 52, well digger, from a well cave-in, West Point, Texas, August 5, 1907. Anderson was working in a well, three feet in diameter, 40 feet below the surface, when sand slid from the sides and buried him to his shoulders. For a distance of 20 feet above his head, there was an unsupported wall of sand, from which other slides seemed imminent. Of the 12 or more men who gathered, all were afraid to go to the aid of Anderson. Duncan was summoned and, fastening a rope to himself, was lowered into the well. He dug the sand from about Anderson until he was free to the waist, when another slide occurred, which covered Anderson to a depth of 10 inches. Duncan escaped being buried by jumping up and grasping a rope dangling over his head, the sand coming only to his knees. Duncan was frightened but, after two hours’ work, dug Anderson free, and he was hoisted out. Duncan was then drawn up. After the two had reached the surface, Anderson, to test the wall, gave the curb at the top a poke with a stick, and the curb and a large mass of sand fell into the well, filling it to a depth of over 20 feet. 5180-638
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