Interesting People mailing list archives
IP: Dick Eastman's transatlantic rescue - a real story
From: Dave Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 08:50:45 -0500
From: Brian.Randell () newcastle ac uk (Brian Randell) Dear colleagues:
Just in case any of you missed the story, follow this URL to the full text=
- it
makes dramatic reading! http://www-cgi.cnn.com/TECH/9602/internet_rescue/ken.html
The above was just sent me by soneone who uses the Compuserve Genealogy
forum - which is moderated by Dick Eastman, someone I've corresponded with
quite bit.
It is a graphic record of the messages that were exchanged over the forum,
when someone in Scotland was having a stroke, and of the (successful)
efforts made to trace him and get emergency help to him. The text is copied
below.
Cheers
Brian
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Excerpts of on-line conversation
from CompuServe's Genealogy Forum on February 20, 1996
February 22, 1996
Web posted at: 1:30 p.m EST (1830 GMT)
* Ken Walker (Scot) | Helo . . .have broblemd , , ,thhimk I am
| wayin g stroke
Vickie (Elam) White | too many kids using parents' account
Dot Rhyne Arthur | You have to sleep with crumbs, does that work
| in
| the bathtub, too?
Dick Eastman/SYSOP | Sandra: If you have the User ID (address) of
| the person then we can put a stop to it.
Jim Claunch / KS | you sleep in the bathtub?
Dot Rhyne Arthur | Ken are you serious?, I'm worried.
sandra Ellis | I believe I saw name when I signed on
MARY L. WITTLOCK | Ken--I wouldn't joke about that
Dot Rhyne Arthur | No, Jim, just crumbs in the bathtub.
Richard O. White | A crumb, is a crumb, is a crumb.
Jim Claunch / KS | never been called a crumb before
Dick Eastman/SYSOP | Sandra: Any info you can give will help. Easy
| if we have the User ID (address) but quite
| often
| we can find it by name.
Dot Rhyne Arthur | I've been called worse.
Jim Claunch / KS | yeah?
* Ken Walker (Scot) | Help: I think I a stroke . . .is not wind
| you. Please somebody help
Dot Rhyne Arthur | Ken, are you there?
Betty Clay | Sandra, if you can get the ID number, it is
| better. If in CO,
| you can set Who's Here to give you the ID.
* Ken Walker (Scot) | Dot HEP
Dick Eastman/SYSOP | Sandra: Any Genealogy Forum sysop can lock a
| miscreant out of the Genealogy Forum. If it's
| a serious problem we notify CompuServe
| Security and they have greater powers.
sandra Ellis | I tried to find in member list no luck any
| other way?
Ken Walker (Scot) | Please Help
Karon Bosze/VA | Ken's in Scotland....Arobrath or
| something like that.
Dot Rhyne Arthur | How can we help?
Dick Eastman/SYSOP | Hi Ken. How may we help?
Betty Clay | Sandra, if they are using a 'nickname' it
| gets hard - but if we
| have the ID number, we can locate their names
| easily.
* Ken Walker (Scot) | Help I think I have had a stroke HELP
sandra Ellis | sexual connetations.
Dot Rhyne Arthur | Can you use your phone with the computer on?
* Dick Eastman/SYSOP | Ken: Where are you? Your telephone number???
Betty Clay | Ken, where are you?
Richard O. White | Dick, is this guy serious?
Diane Schoelles | Dick: Is there a way you can lookup Ken's
| member
| data?
* Ken Walker (Scot) | Help me . . . please . . .
* Dick Eastman/SYSOP | Ken: Your phone number???????
* Ken Walker (Scot) | HELP ME SOMEBUDY HELP
* Dick Eastman/SYSOP | Ken: YOUR PHONE NUMBER?
Jim Claunch / KS | ken, why don't you hang up and dial 911
Betty Clay | Ken's ID is 74563,1543
Vickie (Elam) White | Jim, he is in Scotland
| rural area
* Ken Walker (Scot) | (0241) 430045
Diane Schoelles | Jim: Ken is in Scotland. Do they have 911
| there?
* Dick Eastman/SYSOP | Ken's ID is 101540,2040
| OK everyone, I'm calling
Betty Clay | Oops, sorry. I missed it!
Vickie (Elam) White | Ken, what town are you in?
* Ken Walker (Scot) | HELP ME . . IS A WIND UP
Betty Clay | Ken, Dick is calling for help now.
| Ken, where in Scotland are you?
Richard O. White | What is "is a wind up"?
Vickie (Elam) White | Ken is an Anglican priest I think
| don't know if he lives at the church rectory
| or not
Betty Clay | Ken, are you still here?
Richard O. White | Ken, What city are you in?
* Ken Walker (Scot) | nO WIND UP
Dot Rhyne Arthur | Ken, stay with us until Dick gets back.
Sharon Arnold/TX | Ken: what is your phone
| number?
Vickie (Elam) White | Ken, what town are you in?
* Ken Walker (Scot) | LEAVING C-SERVE
Vickie (Elam) White | Ken, no stay
Betty Clay | Ken, where are you. Stay. Dick is getting
| help.
* Ken Walker (Scot) | LL (01241) 430045
Betty Clay | Thanks for the number, Ken.
| Can you tell us your town, or nearest town?
Vickie (Elam) White | His phone # won't help us
| We need to know what town he's in
| so we can get police
| or ambulance
* Ken Walker (Scot) | I stay in the town of Arbroath which is on
| the North East Coast of Scotland
Vickie (Elam) White | OK Ken.
* Ken Walker (Scot) | 16B HIGH TREET
Vickie (Elam) White | What symptoms are you having?
Dot Rhyne Arthur | Dick, did you get that address?
Karon Bosze/VA | I'll be back shortly. Calling Bedford,
| UK.
* Ken Walker (Scot) | No concentratio . . .ax't=3D
Fran Ames/CA | ATH0
Dick Eastman/SYSOP | I am on phone with emergency operator in
| Scotland
Dot Rhyne Arthur | Good.
* Ken Walker (Scot) | Can' ooperate left and right hans
Dot Rhyne Arthur | Ken, keep on with us.
Betty Clay | Hang on, Ken. Dick is getting help.
MARY L. WITTLOCK | Hey guys son knocked me off computer what
| happened with Ken?
* Ken Walker (Scot) | NO WINF UP . . .HONEST
Vickie (Elam) White | Dick is calling emergency #
Betty Clay | Ken is still with us, and Dick is talking
| with emergency
| operator in Scotland.
Dot Rhyne Arthur | Ken, just an Ok will help us know you are
| there.
* Dick Eastman/SYSOP | hang on
Vickie (Elam) White | OK Ken, we know
Diane Schoelles | Mary: Says he has had a stroke
Vickie (Elam) White | we believe you
Betty Clay | Ken - does No WIND UP mean you are not
| playing - you are
| serious?
MARY L. WITTLOCK | Ken give your symptoms
Vickie (Elam) White | Ken, can you go unlock your door? To let
| police in?
| Or ambulance?
MARY L. WITTLOCK | Are you using only one hand now?
Dot Rhyne Arthur | It's OK Vickie, they'll get in.
| Don't worry about the door.
MARY L. WITTLOCK | Did he tell us town he is in
* Dick Eastman/SYSOP | AMBULANCE IS DISPATCHED
Vickie (Elam) White | Mary, yes we have address
Fran Ames/CA | Not that I know of, desc of William AMES
Dot Rhyne Arthur | Yes, Mary we have all that.
Ken Walker (Scot) | God is my judge . . .ni windup . .wind up
* Dick Eastman/SYSOP | TO 16B HIGH STREET, ARBROATH, SCOTLAND
Vickie (Elam) White | Thanks Dick
Diane Schoelles | Thank you, Dick
* Dick Eastman/SYSOP | Wow!
Dot Rhyne Arthur | Yay!, Dick!
Betty Clay | Right! WOW!
* Ken Walker (Scot) | thank you all
Michael Mac Cannell | Wow!
MARY L. WITTLOCK | Hope he lets us know when he gets help
Vickie (Elam) White | Ken, stay with us
Dot Rhyne Arthur | Ken, help is on the way!
Sharon Arnold/TX | Fast reactions on your part Dick.
Betty Clay | I hope someone does! We'll want to know that
| help got
| there.
* Dick Eastman/SYSOP | Ken: hang up and call 012 4187 2222
MARY L. WITTLOCK | Thank God Dick on conf tonight
sandra Ellis | Good job Dick
Ken Walker (Scot) | Help meeeeeeeeeeeee
* Dick Eastman/SYSOP | I will call emergency operator back in one
| hour. She said she would have news by then.
Dot Rhyne Arthur | Ken, can you see this message.
Dick Eastman/SYSOP | Ken: Ambulance is on the way
* Ken Walker (Scot) | ok
Dot Rhyne Arthur | Good, Ken
Fran Ames/CA | William AMES is he is, we're related :)
* Ken Walker (Scot) | thsnkd all
MARY L. WITTLOCK | Ken what is happening to you numbness or
| weakness on one side
Dot Rhyne Arthur | Are they there already?
Betty Clay | Ken, we will be looking for good new about
| you.
* Dick Eastman/SYSOP | Ken: Hang on... all will be OK
* Ken Walker (Scot) | ken . . bag coorinstiom
sandra Ellis | Ken I am praying for you.
Fran Ames/CA | Scotsman are tough...
Dot Rhyne Arthur | Ken, God is with you.
Ken Walker (Scot) | The keyboar is metting
Kaj v. Kasz_bik /NY | Good Evening all.
Betty Clay | Hi, Kaj.
MARY L. WITTLOCK | Ken can you move?/
* Ken Walker (Scot) | ITs wot working
Dot Rhyne Arthur | Kaj, we are having a bit of crisis, just
| watch.
gabby/IN | HI
Nan/FL | Ken told us the other night that he had 4
| children--is
| he all alone?
* Dick Eastman/SYSOP | Ken: All is OK, hang on.
MARY L. WITTLOCK | Are your arms legs working
* Ken Walker (Scot) | i am alone
Kaj v. Kasz_bik /NY | RESEARCHING: AHRENS, ALFORD, BACHORZ, BASKA,
| BUHR,
| COLLINS, DORAWA, DUNN, DZWONKOWSKI,
| FEATHERSTONE,
| von GLISZCZYNSKI, HAMANN, KANE, KASZUBIK, von
| KIEDROWSKI,
| KNOPIK, KOSTUJ, von LIPINSKI, LORBIECKI,
| MAXWELL,
| McDERMOTT, MICHALOWSKI, PABICH, PARYSEK,
| PARZYSZ,
| SANDERS, WAGNER, WALIGORA, WALENSI,
Dot Rhyne Arthur | The help will be there soon.
Kaj v. Kasz_bik /NY | WANTOCH-REKOWSKI, WORZALLA
* Ken Walker (Scot) | RIGHT HAND SIDE VERY SLOE
MARY L. WITTLOCK | No you are not we are all here for you
Nan/FL | Hi, Ken, I am praying for you too. Remember
| your
| trip to Disneyland!
Richard O. White | Ken, What do you mean, "The keyboard is
| melting'?
gabby/IN | HI KEN
Dot Rhyne Arthur | Gabby, Ken is having a problem.
| Just watch.
Richard O. White | Everyone pulling for you Ken, Hang in there!
Dot Rhyne Arthur | Ken are you OK
* Ken Walker (Scot) | i FRRL VRY TIRED
Dot Rhyne Arthur | Stay with us, Ken.
MARY L. WITTLOCK | Ok Ken best thing is to stay calm don't try
| and do
| anything don't want things to progress Face
| numb
| too are you drooling
Vickie (Elam) White | Ken, how far away is the town from you?
* Dick Eastman/SYSOP | Ken: Hang on. Help is on the way
sandra Ellis | keep talking Ken try to stay alert so you can
| tell what hurts.
MARY L. WITTLOCK | Ken do you have headache?
Vickie (Elam) White | Mary, sure sounds like a stroke. I work in
| an
| emergency room
| see them all the time
MARY L. WITTLOCK | Yeah I did too
* Dick Eastman/SYSOP | Ken: Hang on. Type anything
Richard O. White | Hang On Ken!
Betty Clay | Ken, are you still there?
MARY L. WITTLOCK | And you know about right vs left
Vickie (Elam) White | Ken, just type one letter every once in a
| while to let
| us know you are still conscious
| don't worry about answering us
| with long messages
Dick Eastman/SYSOP | To all: I will follow this and post message
| on the mesage board when I know.
Dot Rhyne Arthur | Thanks, Dick.
Vickie (Elam) White | Good Dick
Betty Clay | Thanks, Dick. We do want to know.
Sharon Arnold/TX | Thanks Dick.
Dot Rhyne Arthur | Maybe the ambulance is there.
Diane Schoelles | Thanks Dick.
Vickie (Elam) White | Ken, type the letter K
Richard O. White | Good Work, Dick.
Nan/FL | Here in Florida wants to know, too.
SONDRA J. HENDY | Thanks Dick, Wyoming is worried too.
MARY L. WITTLOCK | Wish he had sound so we could tell him just
| one
| letter
Vickie (Elam) White | Ken, type any letter
ROBERT B. CROSS | CA too
Richard O. White | Ken, give us a sign!
Vickie (Elam) White | He's gone
| Ken, any letter
MARY L. WITTLOCK | Dick did they say how long before ambulance
| would
| get there
Dot Rhyne Arthur | He's still signed in.
DAN J. SCHULTER | He is still connected!
Vickie (Elam) White | Dot, he would be unless he actually could
| manage
| to sign off
Dick Eastman/SYSOP | Hang on, I'm calling Scotland
DAN J. SCHULTER | Hang on Ken.
Dot Rhyne Arthur | True.
Betty Clay | The system will leave him connected for
| another 20-25
| minutes, even if he doesn't hit a key.
Vickie (Elam) White | that doesn't mean he is conscious
| Betty, right
| that's what I'm afraid of
MARY L. WITTLOCK | Vicki this looks like a good one
Sharon Arnold/TX | If the ambulance is there, they
| are probably going to deal with
| him first without paying any
| attention to the computer.
Vickie (Elam) White | I hope so!
Dot Rhyne Arthur | They may not know how to turn it off.
MARY L. WITTLOCK | They better
Richard O. White | Ken, Hang in there.
Dot Rhyne Arthur | Maybe we could give clear directions. Karon?
Vickie (Elam) White | No, it will disconnect if it is idle too long
MARY L. WITTLOCK | Who cares about turning it off
Betty Clay | I suspect most any one working on the
| ambulance has
| computer experience. But they might not
| think it important to
| turn it off.
Vickie (Elam) White | so I wonder if he could get back on to us if
| he needs
| more help
* Dick Eastman/SYSOP | OK. LISTEN UP
Vickie (Elam) White | and the ambulance hasnt arriverd
Sharon Arnold/TX | I wouldn't think it would matter if
| it was on or off.
* Dick Eastman/SYSOP | Police are at Ken Walker's house right now....
Dot Rhyne Arthur | Yay
*Dick Eastman/SYSOP | ambulance is on the way.
| Ken is conscious but obviously very, very ill
MARY L. WITTLOCK | Is he conscious
Vickie (Elam) White | Hooray
Diane Schoelles | Thank Goodness
Betty Clay | That's just GREAT, Dick. Very quick thinking
| on your part.
Dick Eastman/SYSOP | aMBUL;ANCE IS EXPECTED ANY MOMENT. pOLICE ARE
| IN THE ROOM WITH KEN
MARY L. WITTLOCK | Dick God Bless You
Dick Eastman/SYSOP | Whew!
SONDRA J. HENDY | Good work Dick!
Vickie (Elam) White | I knew he wasn't kidding
* Dick Eastman/SYSOP | Was not a hoax. Was real
Diane Schoelles | God Bless Ken.
Sharon Arnold/TX | Wow, I am impressed with what
| you did Dick. I am amazed Ken
| could type as much as he did!
| For so long!
sandra Ellis | You cant tell me this the greatest thing
| around Better than 911
Vickie (Elam) White | he's a kidder but not that bad!
Richard O. White | GREAT DICK!!!!! I SHOUT
gabby/IN | cann't beleive this is happing
Dick Eastman/SYSOP | My hands are shaking
Betty Clay | I think he was telling us it was real with
| the NO WIND UP.
| But I didn't know that term.
Dot Rhyne Arthur | Karon, Dick, did anyone record this? It
| should be in
| the Compuserve Hall of Heroes?
ROBERT B. CROSS | God bless you all, thank God you were all
| here for him
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Dept. of Computing Science, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne,
NE1 7RU, UK
EMAIL =3D Brian.Randell () newcastle ac uk PHONE =3D +44 191 222 7923
FAX =3D +44 191 222 8232 URL =3D http://www.cs.ncl.ac.uk/~brian.randell/
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- IP: Dick Eastman's transatlantic rescue - a real story Dave Farber (Feb 25)