Peter W. H. Finney, 21, farmer, died attempting to save John Thomas, 44, farmer and well?digger, from suffocation, Snake Creek, Virginia, May 26, 1911. Thomas was overcome by gas in a well 40 feet deep, in which he had set off a blast of dynamite some hours before. Although several men refused to descend to his aid, Finney descended into the well with a rope around him. When he reached the bottom, he removed the rope from his body and tied it around Thomas and told the men to pull him up quickly. Before Thomas was got to the surface, Finney was overcome. Thomas was found to be dead. Finney’s body was removed from the well by means of hooks 45 minutes later. 9843-758
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