Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 April 1877 — A Thrilling Adventure. [ARTICLE]

A Thrilling Adventure.

James Hancock, foreman of the repair gang of the city water-works, and brother of Superintendent Hancock, had a narrow escape from a horrible death at Ludlow this afternoon. The twenty-four-inch pipe leading from the great reservoir to the higher brook has for some time needed repairs, and, a coffer-dam having been built to shut off the water, Mr. Hancock crawled into the pipe at the reservoir end, Intending to go through its entire length to ascertain precisely what repairs were necessary. After getting about a quarter of a mile in he found that a section of pipe, having sunk somewhat in quicksand, had not emptied itself, and that it would be impossible to crawl through to the higher brook-end without danger of drowning. Of course he could not turn about, and he had no other alternative than to back out—a very slow, tedions and painful process. It was intensely cold inside the pipe, and he soon became benumbed, and so announced in a feeble voice to the men at either end, who were listening, and were becoming extremely anxions for his welfare. Meantime the coffer-dam was leaking badly, and the men had to wprk with all their might at the pomps to prevent the water from flooding and drowning Mr. Hancock. Hie danger became so Ct that a cart-load of sawdust was ped behind the dam, and bags of sand were thrqwp in to stop the leak. After Awhile Hancock became so exhausted as to be unable to speak in reply to the shouted inquiries as to his progress. Hour after hour passed, and a large number of persons gathered expecting that the man wopld never be got from the pipe alive. Finally, after an imprisonment of five and a half hoars, he backed out alive, yet trembling and nearly dead.—Springfield (Mast.) Cor. Boston Journal. —Somebody having remarked that a great many people were hut of doors yesterday, Lavender wanted to know why they didn't go to a door factory and buy some.