A melancholy accident lately happened in a town called Birr, in Ireland. About six hours after a hole had been opened to clean a pump, a lad about twenty years old descended a ladder, and, when he had got about half way down, was suffocated by the damp; a man, who who perceived him falling, inconsiderately followed him down, and fell likewise, when he got to the same depth; another man, who came up to the place as the second person fell, ran down the ladder as hastily as possible, and shared the same fate.
The best and safest way to know if there is any danger in going down into such places, is first to let down a lighted candle by a rope; for, if the candle goes out, it is a sign there is at bottom some vapour prejudicial to animal life.
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