W. Jackson Easterling rescued James I. Smith from a well, Mount Olive, Mississippi, March 6, 1931. James, 3, fell into an old well that was 75 feet deep and 14 inches in diameter. He lodged 25 feet below the top on two short pieces of board, which were wedged in opposite sides of the clay wall. There was 25 feet of water in the well. After efforts were made to rescue James by means of hooks on ropes, a small boy was roped but was not lowered, because his father would not permit him to enter the well. Other boys were asked to enter, but none would. It was feared that the walls might cave. Jackson, 13, schoolboy, was brought to the well, and after a rope was tied on him, he was lowered head first by five men. Fearing dirt might get in his eyes, he kept his eyes closed, groped, and got hold of James. He called to the men, who then pulled them to the top. James had been in the well for four hours and suffered from cold and shock.
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