W. Edward Foy saved George Hutton and William N. Harmer from suffocation, Villanova, Pennsylvania, October 11, 1928. Harmer, 54, descended a ladder in the manhole of a governor pit of a gas line and was overcome by gas 8 feet below the surface of the ground. Hutton, 22, who had warned him that the gas was strong, descended the ladder to him and tried to push him up. Hutton was overcome and fell across Harmer. Holding his breath, Foy, 21, student, descended the ladder, grasped Hutton, and pushed him upward to men at the top. Foy then climbed out of the pit and started to resuscitate him. Another man entered the pit but immediately came out when he noted the strength of the gas. Foy re-entered and tried to lift Harmer. Becoming affected by the gas, he ascended the ladder for air. In the meantime, a rope had been brought, and Foy tied one end of it around himself, descended the ladder, and tied the other end around Harmer. Foy then climbed out, and Harmer was drawn out. Both he and Hutton recovered.
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