DERSINGHAM - TWO MEN SUFFOCATED IN A WELL
On Monday week a sad accident occurred, by which two men, named Thomas Johnson 41 and James Ringwood 38 lost their lives. It appears that at Ling House, Dersingham, the residence of Mr. Stanton, there is a deep well, 150 feet to the surface of the water, and about 30 feet from thence to the bottom. The water is obtained by means of a double-action force pump, and as this was out of order, Mr. Margetts, plumber, of Snettisham, sent two of his men on the 21st ult. to effect the necessary repairs, but the state of the air in the well was such that they were compelled to beat a hasty retreat.
During the following week means were taken to render the well safe for another attempt, and on Monday week the two men Johnson and Ringwood began their descent, assisted by one of Mr. Stanton’s men, who held by a rope the ladder they went down on. When they had got down about 20 feet, Johnson’s candle went out, and he had only time to re-ascend a step or two when he fell to the bottom overpowered by the foul air. Hardly an instant elapsed ere Ringwood also lost his hold, and was likewise drowned in the water below. Mr. Stanton immediately sent a man on horseback to Snettisham for medical aid, and a large party of helpers were quickly on the spot, but the foulness of the air was such that it was not till the following morning that the bodies were recovered by a diver from Lynn.
An inquest was subsequently held, and a verdict was returned in accordance with these facts.
