Patrick J. Gallagher helped to save Robert E. Fear from a mine cave-in, Pittston, Pennsylvania, May 8, 1917. Robert, 13, and another boy descended the slope of a hole that had caved in the ground and entered the chamber of an old mine to gather coal. They were caught by a fall of earth overhanging the entrance to the chamber. Robert was buried to his chest, and the other boy was buried to his hips. Cracks at the top of the hole and the dropping of clay earth overhanging the chamber indicated another cave-in was imminent. Gallagher, 32, mine track layer, descended the hole to Robert and began extricating him by clawing away the earth with his hands. Later he used a shovel. After removing a six-inch thickness of earth from around Robert, a small mass fell from the overhang and filled the depression. Gallagher continued working, and after he had removed the earth to Robert’s hips, a man who had descended the hole and helped to save the other boy assisted him in extricating Robert, whom they then took to the top of the hole. During the night there was another fall of earth that filled the entrance to the chamber. 17968-1487
17968 – 1487
17968-1487