Sylvester H. Welser, Jr., 24, pipefitter, saved William T. McCauliff, 19, laborer, from suffocation, Ashtabula, Ohio, December 1, 1912. McCauliff entered an iron tank with a pail of gasoline to clean it. The tank was six feet high and four feet, eight inches in diameter, with a neck two feet, eight inches high and 17 inches in diameter. McCauliff was overcome by the fumes of the gasoline and fell. Welser and another man were summoned by McCauliff’s helper, and Welser was lowered with his foot in a loop in a rope, squeezing through the neck with difficulty. He put the loop around McCauliff’s body, and two unsuccessful attempts were made to draw McCauliff through the neck, Welser hoisting and guiding McCauliff as the others pulled on the rope. Although he was getting weak from the fumes, Welser then twisted the rope around McCauliff’s wrists, and McCauliff was drawn out and revived. The rope was returned, and Welser put his foot in the loop, but before he could be raised, he fell unconscious. More men were summoned, and a number of fruitless attempts to rescue Welser were made. A hole was cut in the tank, and Welser was removed, apparently dead. He was unconscious for three hours and was disabled 15 days. 9750-1164
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9750-1164