The next few seconds seemed like hours of terror. The first loud cracking sound was a panic alarm. Johnny jumped off his perch on the ladder and headed for the wide open barn door as the building leaned and collapsed toward him. When the roaring sound stopped, Johnny found himself standing in a spot that used to be just inside the barn door, Without a scratch, but totally confused, he could see timbers and tin scattered and strewn everywhere. The barn roof still looked like a roof but was on the ground. Pete was still in the hay loft and unhurt.

There was no question about where Jimmy was for his screams and bellowing could be heard for a half mile away. His neck and shoulders were trapped under a huge timber and his feet were flailing about wildly. Johnny and Pete made an effort to lift the timber off Jimmy, but it was no use. lifting that timber would require at least part of the roof to be lifted. The desire to lift that whole mess off of Pete was there, but the two boys just didn't have the strength. It was quickly decided, without many words that Pete would stay and try to comfort Jimmy and Johnny would go for help.

As Johnny ran down the old road toward his aunt's house, he could see two middle aged women, Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Davidson running at full speed toward him. They had heard Jimmy's screaming and already knew that something horrible had happened. Johnny gasped, "the barn fell on Jimmy. We can't get him out from under it". The two women never missed a step. They just kept on running toward the barn and Johnny fell in behind them.

By the time they reached the remains of the barn, another neighbor lady, Mrs. Emmit joined them, She had come from another direction with the same fears in her heart. The three women wasted no time, They just seemed to know what had to be done. They picked a spot at the corner of the roof and began lifting. By the time they had the roof lifted a few inched, they were joined in the effort by Mr. Emmit and with all of their strength including what Pete and Johnny could contribute, the old timbers began to creak and moan as they were lifted about 3 feet into the air.

Mrs. Wilson quickly found a piece of 4x4 wood about the right length and set it upright under the lifted timbers. Without any hesitation or apparent fear for her own safety Mrs. Emmit picked her way through the debris to where Jimmy was and gently drug him out of harms way. As soon as the weight was off of Jimmy's neck and shoulders, He became quiet and very still, blood oozed from his mouth. Some of those who saw him at that moment thought that they had witnessed Jimmy's death. However it was soon discovered that he still had a pulse and was breathing slightly. He was alive.

By this time, a small crowd had gathered and someone had called an ambulance. Up to this point, not many words had been spoken, but now everyone began talking at once. After the ambulance arrived and took Jimmy to the hospital, the crowd talked among themselves for awhile and then went back to their own homes and lives.