Paul E. Reichenbaugh helped to rescue John A. Pinard, Jr., from a rock fall, Bronx, New York, May 23, 1975. Pinard, 49, and Reichenbaugh, 31, miners, were in an underground chamber when rock debris fell from beneath them into a vertical shaft leading to a tunnel. Pinard was carried with the rocks into the shaft and buried to his waist; but Reichenbaugh landed on a metal plug which had fallen across the top of the shaft, leaving only a small opening. Lowering himself through the opening, Reichenbaugh dug debris from around Pinard. The rocks were sinking toward the tunnel as Reichenbaugh secured Pinard’s safety rope, which was attached to his belt, to the plug at the top of the shaft. While Reichenbaugh was holding to the plug, the rocks fell into the tunnel, leaving Pinard suspended by the rope. Another workman aided Reichenbaugh in climbing onto the plug; and both men then pulled Pinard out of the shaft to safety.
55329 – 6269
55329-6269