Oregon Republican. [volume] (Dallas, Or.) 1870-1872, 1871-03-04
Exciting Scene-Four Men Imprisoned
i'm Tunnel by Fire.

On Wednesday evening the water
works tunnel was the scene of most
thrilling disaster, involving the greatest
danger to four men, who were at work
therein. The engine house and sheds
over and around the mouth of the
shaft were totally destroyed by fire
The following are the circumstances
connected with the accident:
In one corner of the shed, fifty OF
sixty feet from the engine, was kept a
barrel OF non explosive petroleum flu
i'd" This fnid was used for lighting
purposes in the engine room, and above
ground only, lard oil being used under
ground. About 6 o'clock the engineer
went to the barrel to draw some oil to
fill the lamps for the night. He had in
his hand lantern with tight globe
and did not dream of danger, as the oil
was, of course, non>explosive," /" and
he had done the same thing hundred
times before. While drawing the oil,
the gas that escaped from the barrel
ignited. In an instant, the barrel ex-
ploded, scattering the blazing oil in
every direction. The engineer fortu.
nately escaped with but a very slight
scorehing.
The flames spread in every direction
with great rapidity. The buildings were
constructed of pine, and were soon
wholly enveloped, and nothing what
ever could be done by the men at the
works to arrest the progress of the
flames
Immediately upon the first breaking
out Of the fire, the first concern Of those
above ground was for the four M en- at
work in the tunnel below A large fan
or blower is kept in constant operation
to supply fresh air to the workmen,
conducted 10 a pipe through the entire
length, and also to draw out the uoxi>
Gus gases which at various points es.
cape from the issures 10 the clay The
FIRE soon caused the stoppage of the en-.
gine, and the greatest fears were enter
tanned that the supply of air being cut
off, the escaping gases aud the smoke
and heat from the fire-many burning
boards aud tinbers falling down the
shaft would make the air in the TIM
mel so foul as to cause suffocation
There they were, 5000 feet from shore
in that little hole" under the lake.
and without the slightest hope of relief
until the fire should be cxtingujshed
A large crowd of people gathered at
the spot, and the imminent peril Of the
men was the all>absorbing topic of con
versation.
As soon as the mouth Of the shaft
could be approached, the men shouted
down with all their strength, it being
thought that the men might have dis
covered their danger and made their
way towards the shaft But there was
no response, and many believed that all
had perished A light was first lower
ed to the bottom Of the shaft to aseer-
tain the condition Of the air. When it
was found that it burned, thongh
dimly, there was more room for hope.
One of the workmen volunteered to 90
down. A rope was fastened around bis
body, and he was lowered dow o the
shaft. The air was almost sitting, aud
one of the mules lay dead near the
shaft. Notwithstanding the heat and
foul air, Jimmy plunged bravely into
the tunnel, and groped his way outward
in search of lhe men He had not gone
far till he met one of them coming out
This was fully two hours after the
breaking out Of the fire. The man said
that they were all right, and that busi-
ness brought him toward the shaft,
and when ten or twelve hundred feet
from it, he began to observe the heat
and sitting air. He then knew that
something unusual had happened, and
was hurrying forwurd to learn what it
was, when he met Jimmy - CieUe-
land Herald