New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-22
HOW TIE DISASTER OCCURRED.

HOW THE DISASTER OCCURRED.
LITTLE AIR HOLE THAT COULD EASILY HAVE
BEEN sToPPaD-EFFcRTs OF THE woRKMEN TO
EsCApE-sCENEs AROUND THE TUNNEL-PA-
TIIETiC INCIDENTS.
Aterriblc disaster by which twenty-one lives
were lost, occurred at the Hudson River Tunnel, at
the foot of Fifteenth-st., Jersey City. yesterday
morning at haf-past o'clock Tweny-elght
men had gone into the tunnel for an eight hour
shift and they were at work. little thinking OF dan
ger when a number of the men who were working
in the temporary entraDce-between the working
shaft and the tunnel proper-heard the air escaping
from the portion Of the shaft in which they were
with a noise like tho blowing off of steam
from q boiler. They fastened to the place
whence the noise came. and found that break was
forming in the roof. where the iron plates of the
shaft in which they were came up to the brick-work
of the outside of the wall of the working shaft For
a few moments they hoped that they might be able
10 close the rapidly widening opening, through
which the air was rushing, and they struggled hard
with IT, but in vain. They were too Late The little
air-hoe that might have been stopped with
handful of clay at first had extended
so rapidly that they could not keep pace with 1t.
As the air rushed out the seam grew wider and
earth and water began to come IN. 1he bolts In
the iron-work snapped and the braces began to
QulVer No Time was 10 De loSU IL tne HlcH WeIc W
save themselves With shout TO those who were
working further back in the tunnel. the men in
front sprang for the arlock, hoping through it to
make their escape.
THE TUNNEL AND THE AIR-LOCK.
The earth through which the tunnel is being con-
structed is silt, over which is a loose filling of
gravel and sand. The roof of the tunnel is thirty
feet below upper surface of the ground. and in
order TO keep this immense weight Of earth from
falling ihto the excavation the shaft OF the
tunnel has been kept pumped full of
compressed air, with q pressure of twenty
mounds to the square inch. There are plenty of
braces and other supports, but the main dependence
is placed on the compressed air, and men have been
kept watching constantly to detect the least break
in the surface of the shaft. through which air
might escape in order TO prevent the occurrence or
any such accident as that which has occurred. II
is ssupposed that the man whose duty 1t was to at
tend to this portion of the shaft had left his work
few moments before and either had not noticed OF
had disregarded the small alr-hole which soon after
ward did such terrible damage.
The air-loci Is an iron chamber of cylindrical
shape somewhat resembling a boiler. but much
larger and heavier Its diameter is six feet and its
length fifteen feet. 1t extends from the working
shaft, through the wall, into the entrance
to the tunnel, which can only be entered
ingress andegress possible without cndan gering he
tunnel 1t has massive door at either end, each
swinging inward toward the tunnel. otherwise the
pressure from within would force the door open.
Before the inner door of the airlock opened
the outer door is closed, and the lock is filled with
air until the pressure there is equal to that in the
tunnel Then of course the inner door is closed be-
fore the outer door is opened.
STRUGGLES TO ESCAPE
Seven of the panc-strcken men succeeded In get
ting into the ar-lock. The eighth man was III the
doorway when mass of earth and iron plates
crushed in and closed the door upon him, killing
him instantly. At the same time water began pour
ing through the great break in the roof. The men
in the arOck tried TO close the door, to prevent the
water from rushing into it and drowning them,
but the body of their companion was SO wedged
into the doorway that it WAS impossible TO do this.
Then they stripped off their clothes to fill mp the
crevice They shouted for assistance and tried to
force open the outside door of the air-lock.
but il resisted their efforts There was still
o terrible pressure of air against it, One of the
men shouted to another near the end of tho lock to
break ont the bullseyes" meaning the large cir
cuar discs Of glass through which light was adj
mitted to the ar-lock. After considerable effort
these were broken, and the air rushing through
enabled the men, with aid from outside, TO open the
door and make their escape.
When the earth caved in it took with it part OF
the shed built over it. One of the woTkmen outside
saw this and called to Michael Hurley. outside
superintendent on the surface, and the two realz-
Ing to extent the nature Of the calamity,
hastened down the ladder OF the working shaft.
The bullseyes had just been shattered.
and dozen voices cried. "Help us
open the door, for Gods sakew The
two men outside worked with will, and the door
was forced open few inches. but il was hard work,
Is the air-ock was more than half full of water,
and the door opened inward. When. however,
partial opening made the water rushed through
Into the working shaft, and when it had lowered
somewhat, the united exertions of the men were
successful; the door was swung back. and the
seven men were free. The water rose so rapidly in
the shaft that it up to the arInpts of some OF
Inc men before they could go up the ladder, and
before many minutes had elapsed the water had
.isen to the level of the surface of the Hudson
hiyer thus cutting off all hope Of saving the
'"enty-one still below
h' 'he Time that the seven men who were saved
succeededin getting into the air-ock, every other
San In the tunnel undoubtedly knew of the danger
nc warning had been given sufficiently early for
ne iurthest workman to have been apprlsed of the
impending calamity Those who were in the air.
eouid hear the cries of those coming after. 1t
a"o"h that large number Of the men was close
'"a the one who was crushed In the doorway.
HOW THE HLws SPREAD.
"o ne"s OF the disaster spread with the greatest
tLsy crowds from jersey City gathered about
49, Aihg shaft In q very few moments after the |
SA uen had escaped Tho namea of a few of |