William G. Wills helped to rescue Thomas Ashcraft from a well cave in, Tyler, Texas, April 16, 1912. Thomas, 17, was working in a well 65 feet deep when a large quantity of sand caved from the top, carrying with it a curb made of boards eight feet long. Some of the boards broke, and others stuck with their ends buried in the sand. Thomas was partly covered by sand and was unable to free himself. Wills, 62, farmer, had himself lowered in darkness. He sat astride a stick at the end of the well rope and was tied to the rope. Wills grasped the ends of two boards and, as those above slowly hoisted him, pulled them from the sand and carried them to the surface. During a period of 90 minutes he made seven trips to the surface with boards. When Wills became too tired to continue his efforts, another man agreed to enter the well to remove the sand. He worked in the well 40 minutes, and then a second man went down and worked a few minutes. Wills went down again, and later, after the first man had again worked in the well, he made another descent simply to examine Thomas. A third man completed the work. When Thomas was hoisted to the surface, he was found to be uninjured. The following morning when a slight pressure was applied, a large quantity of sand slipped into the well. 8543-837
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