The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1867-11-14
A Thrilling Accident In the Hoosac
Tunnel.

The terrible disaster at the Hoosae
tunnel, Saturday week, was preceded By
another accident a few weeks before.
which resulted in the death of two men,
and proved the heroism of Thomas NAL
lory, the gallant fellow who frs. decended
the shaft after the recent explosion. The
Boston Journal publishes this thrilling
story, which would probably have never
been heard of had it not been for the
later and greater calamity.
As the shaft proceeds down, 1T about
every twenty feet, holes are dug in the
sides of the shaft to receive the ends OF
the timbers on which to lay floor, and
as laying this floor is always considered
dangerous and requiring all the hosting
apparatus of the shaft, it is usually done
when no other work is going on in the
shaft. On this day stick of timber had
been sent down with four men on it.
The utmost skill is required to shoot one
end of the timber into the whole dug In
the side of the shaft, and work the other
end into the hole in the opposite side
The difficulty viii be seen when you re-
member that the stick of timber is about
twenty feet long, IL inches square, sus-
pended by single rope, in this case 437
feet long, and 100 feet from the rocky
bottom of the shaft, and the holes out
side the centre of the shaft, with nothing
to hold on by but the single rope and the
timber on which the men are, in semi
darkness. The timber had been landed
in its 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 the timber. In his fall he
caught the man next to him, and over he
went; he also caught the man next, and
he also followed, catching the last man,
who was the sailor, who was sitting on
the timber with his feet crossed under the
timber. In moment be was wheeled
round the timber, with the other three
men, hanging to him. he with his head
down, they upright. There they were,
suspended to the timber only by the feet
of the sailor clasped to the upper side Of
the timber, out of reach of the signal
rope, hundred feet from the rocky floor.
After short time of suspense, the up
per three felt themselves relieved of
weight, and in a few moments heard
heavy thud on the rocks below, by which
they knew that one of their comrades was
gone. He was quickly followed by a sec
ond, but from him groans proceeded, so
that they knew he was still alive. The
third now said to the sailor, II suppose
it will be my turn soon, as cannot hold
on much longer, but the sailor cheered
him and told him that would save him.
He told him to swing himself, and when
he could feel the timber with his feet to
clasp it with them. After some time
swinging he was enabled to do so, and,
after some further time, to get on top of
the timber Relieved of the weight, the
sailor after resting himself as well as he
could, in his position, was also able to get
up. Then they lay for quite time.
Finally, the sailor got up and went to the
signal rope and signalled, Serious acct
dent. Send help But how was help
to reach them The only >communica-
ton was by the rope still attached to the
timber, and the men were too much ex-
hausted to unfasten it. Another sailor
soon solved the problem by clasping the
wire rope ard sliding down the 437 feet.
Arriving at the timber he asked for the
other men. All they could say was, that
they were gone. 80 well, keep up a
good heart /; we will soon be down to
help you" he said, aud quickly unfasten-
ed the rope, and attaching it to his body
he was drawn up. He quickly got cage,
some more men, and descended, and sue
ceeded in getting the two men into the
cage, and they were all drawn to the sur
face. As soon as the sailor found himself
safe, he says, sNow that is all over let
US go down and see about the others :;
and nothing could prevail to prevent his
going down-only to find the first one
that fell broken mass, the second still
alive, but he only lived about eight hours
after being drawn up.