National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1877-05-31
4 HORRIBLE CATASTROPHE.
rH0 LITES LOsr NJ THE BREIETSG
ora CIN.IL LOCK,

lishcd what is known rs m outlet lock for the
purpose Of letting out boats from their water.
way into the Potomac river. The spot where
the transfer lock has been located Is nj point
where the canal Is some distance elevated
above the river, aud consequently makes the
work Of shifting both hazardous aud ditiicult
to perform. When selected II was thought to
he the most advantageous spot that could he
picked out, and would readily answer the
company's purposes. Tho lock was built by
II. Ramsey & Co., Of Baltimore, Nd, and was
the only one Of the kind in this country, the
model being In Scotland. The firm that put
IL up guaranteed its proper running for a 20 =
tain time, and to-day would have seen the ex-
piration Of that waranting. II was in charge
Of their representative at the time the acct
dent happened. The principle Of its working
Is about rs follows:
The caisson Is lowered on a railway aud in
clined plane at an angle Of about thirty de-
grces, and for counter weight two ears loaded
with two hundred and fifty tons Of stone are
placed ON rails each side the caisson. As the
caisson, loaded, goes down toward the river
these ears ascend
Yesterday this spot was the scene Of such n
terrible catastrophe that not 4 doubt remains
but that the place will be markell for the fu-
turr. and three families at least will never for
get the sad experiences that the outlet lock
brought to their homes, and mourning to their
hearts. The work that this lock is called
upon to perform being very heavy, and Mt the
same time important, II was requisite that the
machinery should be of the most substantial
and durable quality. Some Of II was wcigbty,
and could only be handled by the combined
strength of men. The wheels, cablc-tow
chains, counter-halance weights, aud all the
pariphcrnalia that goes to work mp the ma
chincry necessary for tho complete working Of
a watcr-gatc Of this kind. had been supplied
by the Baltimore firm, with an engineer in
charge, and a corps Of competent men TO as
sist in working IL.
All Of the iron work aud wire cable was in-
spotted at the time the machinery was put In
place, and passed rs fit for service. Had the
flaws in the cable been detected at that time
and corrected the lives Of three men would
not yesterday probably have paid the penalty
Of the ovcrsights at the examination. Among
the men employed ut the lock were J. l.. Tar
roll and his sons, Sylvanus and John W. A.
Carroll, Thomas tarlan, Michael Reynolds and
John W. Mead, the later being known as the
as iistant harbor-mastcr and the remainder rs
laborcrs. II was shortly after O'Clock In the
morning that the accident occurred, and acoal-
bnat was just being let out into the river. II
had passed into the cahsson, and both were
being lowered toward the river. when some signs
OF weakness were noticeable in parts of the
machinery. The attention Of the engineer
was called to this fact, and he Immediately
bhht oh tHt To u Suu-
den stop. II was thought by some that this
abrupt checking produced an ovcr-sir,in ON
the cables, causing them to give way, and the
breaking ensued.
The ears and caisson rushed rapidly back to
the foot Of the railway. and the boat and crew,
uniniured, passed ont into the river.
J. l.. Carroll had been following them down
the caiSson with spike and hammer in hand
watching for any sudden let 60 in the rails or
mil md ,.aIt tn, .ba.E IL the inS IN nj
This was part Of his duty whenever the lock
was in operation. lie met his son, Sylvanus
Carroll and Michael Reynolds, walking up be-
side the eounter-baiancc, and almost imm,sli-
atcly after he heard something break, the
ooantcr-balancc ran hack to the wall, and call
ing to his son and companion to look ont, Mr..
Carroll jumped over the wire rope from the
lork on to the bank. As he warned the two
men, they unheeding, the call, saw the wheels
running back ind stopped down to block them
but the speed attained was 81 great that they
passed over the scotching and went on. II is
believed that these two men were caught by
the wire cable and received their injuries from
this rope, which was travelling at that time
with great speed and force.
When J. l.. Carroll looked hack to see if his
son was obeying his call he at first failed to
find him aud Reynolds, but second look
showed him the two men lying between the
tracks bleeding and senscless. As Mr.. Carroll
passed down the track, when the boat WAS be-
ing let out, he met Henry Dcumead and John
n.,','s., Ill. ..rr,, mt ~ H. 80 - 4,
WAS about that time he heard The snan or ma.
chin.ry and iumped ia the hank. alter M,
saw the bndv oTNrad bnricd nv The marbincrv
beneath the water, with only the head above
the surface. John W. A. Carroll and Thomas
Carlan were also On the cai>son, but saved their
lives by jumping into the river and swimming
The stone ears were smashed In p;sces and
tn. nach;n.ry nr.,tv ,hormr.hIv VII cd II
10 Suffered abnut in n;c,cs and much or II
broken bcyond rcuir When IN, two men
Sylyanus Carroll and Michael ReypoIds wcrc
reached they w.rc taken mn and immediately
r.moved
tn form.r w,s t,l.n In tho b,,sc of his
n,h.r ~, m. E,,h,II nl,c. inst harL nr t:r,.,,
Sn,;n,s near I;eory.town He was ,nly
s.y.n,.cn years or arc or ,;ne mu.,,I,r dcyci.
onuent aud until The nr,idcnt Yesterday hid
fair TO become a strong, vigorous man. He
had both legs broken, one arm dislocate,l,
several bruises ON the body and was injured
internally. Surgical aid was Immediately
summoned aud responded to by Drs. TayIor,
Lewis MackalI, Bowie TAYLOR, Lewis Richie
and James MackaIl. After A brief copsulta-
ton IL was decided that the only chances for
life Law in the amputation of both limbs,
which Na, done. One was taken of lust above
the ankle Joint and the other below the knee
Joint, The paticnt survived the anputation
abont nm hour.
Ni.h.., R.xno,as IN. comnan;on of vo,,,
C,,,olI in m. di.as,.r Ia sixty wears If ayr
nd r,s;d.s an E;rst street I;co,.etown n,
was taken IN Tho Third precinrt station and