Windham County Observer

Pastor In Well

Knocked Out By

Tumbling Rock

The Rev. Louis Hanson, 47, a former pastor of the East Putnam church and a war-time employee of the Day Kimball Hospital, was knocked unconscious by a falling rock as he was working near the bottom of a 35-foot well in his parsonage yard at Block Island Monday afternoon.

Rev. Mr. Hanson, who is now pastor of the First Baptist church of Block Island, was removed to South County Hospital, Wakefield R. I., on Tuesday.

Pulled from the well by fire-men, Hanson was taken to the mainland in a Coast Guard picket boat. Dr. Henry B. Potter said Mr. Hanson suffered shock and a bad scalp cut.

The Pastor was working near the bottom of a 35-foot well in his parsonage when the accident occurred.

The island pastor and a helper, George Burgess, were cleaning the deep well from a wooden platform suspended by ropes when the rock crashed down. They had succeeded in pumping most of the water out and were nearing the end of their work.

As the clergyman slumped at his feet, Burgess yelled for help and the injured man's daughter, Elaine, ran from the nearby parsonage.

The girl and Burgess, however, were unable to raise the unconscious clergyman on the rope the two men had used to clamber up and down in the well, and the island fire department was called.

The Rev. Mr. Hanson is well known in Putnam and vicinity. In addition to the East Putnam church, he held pastorates in several nearby towns. To fill a war time emergency he volunteered for duty at the Day Kimball Hospital.

Pastor In Well
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