Page:Accidents and disasters on land.pdf/12

 companions hearing him fall down, one of them hastily went to his assistance, and, though others who were present insisted on his tying a rope round his waist, he, through over anxiety to save his comrade, instantly descended without it, but had scarcely reached the bottom of the ladder with a rope in his hand to fasten to the other man, when he himself was so affected by the air, that he could only give some tremulous shrieks or cries, but being totally unable to help himself, he also fell down. Immediate exertions were then made by all present; and another man having fixed a rope round his waist descended, but before he could lay hold of either of the other two persons, he also was so strongly affected that the people above immediately drew him up again. For some minutes he was strongly convulsed, and appeared like a person deranged; but on being taken to the open air, he immediately recovered. Notwithstanding what he had experienced, his humanity prompted him to make a second attempt, in which he succeeded in throwing a noose over one of the men’s legs, and he and that man were both drawn out Though very much affected, and greatly exhausted by his second attempt: he insisted on going down a third time for the other man; he did so, and in a similar way accomplished his object. Having been rather longer down this third time, when drawn up, he was very seriously affected, but fortunately soon recovered. Medical assistance being immediately called, every exertion was made by two