Thomas J. Violette, 33, laborer, attempted to save Joseph Jacques, 49, laborer, from suffocation, Augusta, Maine, August 28, 1935. Jacques was overcome by carbon dioxide in a cistern 12 feet deep and lay five to six feet from a ladder with his nose and mouth in a foot of water. Violette, who thought Jacques was ill, descended the ladder six feet and jumped to the bottom. Realizing then from the appearance of Jacques that he had been overcome by some deadly agent, Violette dragged Jacques to the ladder, tried to raise him, and lost his hold. He again took hold of Jacques, raised him to a half-upright position, and then was overcome. Jacques fell at one side of the ladder with his face in the water; and Violette fell on him, his face being above the water. John H. Ellis, Jr., foreman of Jacques and Violette, tied a handkerchief over his nose and mouth; and carrying the end of a rope, he descended the ladder and tied the rope on Violette, who was pulled out. Before the rope could be removed from Violette and lowered to Ellis, Ellis collapsed and fell on Jacques. Ambrose M. Lynch, who was trying to revive Violette, then descended the ladder, having a rope fastened around him and carrying another rope. Lynch got on his knees and with difficulty put the rope around Ellis. Before he could tie the rope, he felt he was being affected and started for the ladder but was overcome. He was pulled out and was revived. Ellis was pulled up; but when he was near the top, he fell from the rope. Later he and Jacques were removed from the cistern by means of fire-hooks. Both were dead. Violette was revived.
35064 – 2945
35064-2945