The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-11-23
NUMBER 4S.

a TnRiLIING NARRATIVE The following
Is an account OF an accident which occurred
in tho Iloonc tunnel. sevenl weeks ago,
snd previous to the terrible catastrophe by
which 20 many lives were destroyed In tho
samc place. The sailor mentioned as sus-
timing HE three comPanions. Is Thomas
Malloy. Who subsequently distinguished him.
self by descending the shaft to depth Of
four hundred feet to ascertain the fate OF tho
men who were buried beneath the mas OF
fallen rubbish below. The account says:
as the shaft proceeds down. at about
every 20 feet holes are dug In the sides OF
the shaft To receive the ends OF the timbers
an which to lay iloor, and as laying this
floor is always considered dangerous and ro'
quiring all the hosting apparatus OF tho
shaft, il il usually done when no other
work Is going on In the shalt On this
day stick of timber had been sent down
with four men on Il. Tho utmost
skill Is required t0 shoot one end OF
the timber into the hole dug in the eide OF
the shalt, and work the other end into tho
hole In the opposite side. The difhculty will
he seen when you remember that tho stick o
timber is about twenty feet long. twelve
inches square. suspended by singlo ropc.
in this case l37 feet long. and 100 icct from
the rocky botton of the shalf, and the holes
outside the centre Of the shaft. with nothing
20 hold on by hut ths single rope and tho
timber IN which the men arc, in semi.dark.
ners. The timber had been landed In It's
place, and as one OF the men was standing
he caught the heel of his boot, and losing
his balance, he went over the side OF tho
timber. In his fall he caught the man next
him, and over he went; he nlso caught the
man next, and he also followed. catching the
last man, who was the sailor, who was sit
ting on the timber with his feet crossed under
the timber. IN mumcnt he was wheeled
round the timber, with the other three men
hanging to him. no with his head down,
they upright. There they were, suspended
to the timber only by the feet OF the sailor
clasppd on the upper side Of the timber. out
of the reach OF the signal rope. hundred
feet from the rocky floor. After q short
time Of suspense the upper three felt them.
selves relieved Of weight, and in few
moments heard u heavy thud on the rocks
below, by which they knew that one OF their
comrades had gone. liz was quickly fol-
lowed by q second. hut from him groans pro.
ccedej, 80 thu, they knew that he was still
alive. The third now said to the sailor, %
suppose il will he my turn soon, Us cannot
hold on much longer" hut the sailor chcersd
him and told him that he would save him.
lie told him to swing Himself, and when he
could feel the timber with his feet TO clasp
it with them. After sometime swinging no
was enabled to do so, and after some further
time to get up On the top OF the timber.
Relieved of the weight, the sailor. after
resting himself rs we'll Us he could in his
position. was also able to get up. There
they lay for quits time. Finally tho rai.
lor got up and went to the signal rope and
slgnalized Serious accident. Send help"
But how was help to reach them? The only
communication was by the rope still at
tached to the timber, and the men were too
much exhausted to unlasten Ii. Another
sailor soon solved the problem by clasping
the wire rope and sliding down the 431 iect.
Arriving at the timber he asked for the other
men. All they could say was that they wero
gone. "Oh, we'll, keep up o good heart,
we will be soon down to help you" no said.
and quickly unfastcning tho rope, and at.
taching It to his body he was drawn up.
lie quickly got cage. some moro men do
scended. and succeeded in getting the two
men into the cage, and they were all drawn
to the surface. As soon US the sailor found
himself safe. he says, " now. that 10 all over.
let us 60 down and see about the othcrs."
and nothing would prevail to prevent his
going down, only to lind the first one that
fell broken inass, the second still alive, hut
he only lived about eight hours after being
drawn up."