Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-07-29
BURIED ALIVE.

son River Tunnel--H0sv the hhOr-
rOr Happencd-Twenty Men Lost
Exciting Scenes and Incidents
Heroic ctiOn of one of the Doomed
WOrkmen.
u Wednesday morning week startling
calamity occurred at the Hudson river
tunnel, N. Y.,by which 20 men lost their
lives. The accident occurred at o'clock
in The morning and was caused by the
cayinR In of the mammoth caisson sur
rounding the deep well which serves as
working shaft and entrance into the tun-
mel. Only eight men of all who were In
the tunnel at the time escaped.
The night gang of twenty eight men,
including Assistant Superintendent Wood
land and two firemen, entered the SHAFT
at midnight, the hours of work for this
gang being from 10 to o'clock. The
depth of the shaft is 65 feet, and while
most of the men were employed at the
bottom of the shaft about one.third OF the
gang was engaged on the brick wall of the
arch, 25 feet higher. The main arch of
the tunnel runs out from the shaft q
distance of about 80 feet, when it opens
into the two distinct arches that are to
form the tunnel. Through some negli-
gence of the men it is supposed the air
lock was not properly adjusted when the
process of shifting commenced. The
brick wall connecting the two arches gave
way and the water rushed iuto the cave.
As was their custom the men had come
to the surface for lunch and were just
returning when the crash came. just as
the 28 men had disappeared Superinten-
dent Michael Birdsall came quickly out OF
the little office of the works and, hastily
stepping to the edge Of the working shaft,
called for some of the men to return and
lend assistance in some lifting that was
necessary above. Eight Of the men who
had just disappeared returned to the sur
face, did as they were bid and again went
down the ladder TO resume their work.
The entrance to the tunnel is effected
through cylindrical barrel six feet in
diameter and II feet in length. This is
called an air.lock and serves to preserve
the density of the atmosphere OF tunnel,
which, in turn, is secured by the forcing
of air through pipes from pumps. There
ia door in each end of the air-lock.
They both open inward. At each side of
the doors are round windows of thick
glass; through which, from the outside OF
the air-lock, view can be gained of the
work and workmen inside the tunnel.
After the eight men who had been recalled
had again descended, Night Superin-
tendent BirdsaIl remained for few
moments sitting on the curbing of the
working shaft, whence he had given
instructions to those who had last
gone below. The electric lamps
lighted up the neighboring bulk
heads and piers, and penetrated far
out to where the treacherous water was
tapping and curling above the heads of the
workmen below. Moses Pearson, the
night engineer,at this moment approached
from the engine room. While nearing the
huge iron compressed-air chamber he
suddenly stopped, with an ejaculation of
alarm. Then quickly running to the
superintendent he exclaimed: mike fol-
Gods sake, what does that mean ?" at the
same time pointing out just beyond the
mouth of the working shaft, near which
both men were standing. In the glare OF
the lamps a cloud of dust was distin.
guished in the air, and in an instant it was
observed that il was being forced upward
as though by gust of wind directly from
beneath. The vision had scarce noted
this strange occurancs than the hearing
detected sound as of rushing wind.
Superintendent Birdsall sprang to the
ladder where the men had gone down, AMI
with the haste of a strange fear he soor
reached the bottom, and hastened to ont
of the round glass windows beside the
door of the air.lock and known as "dead
eyes" He tried the door. 1t was fast
because, as he saw the one at the othel
end was open, and the force of the com
pressed air in the tunnel was full upon thu
one nearest him. strange sight he saw
as he looked and at the same time raped
loudly ON the window and door. All Of
the eight men who had last gone dowi
bad not yet left the ar-lock. They were il
the act of passing through when, b,
motions and frantic gestures, the superin
tendent signaled them to return. The,
did not seem to understand him. Sud
denly he saw them start and turn thei
gaze toward the works and in the mex
instant heavy succession of thuds wa
heard and felt, for they shook the ground
Horrible fright in flash appeared on tn
faces of the men inside, and one with
| crowbar rushed to the outer dead. light
| and in an instant had crushed them out
ward. This gave vent to the compresse,
| air that filled the tunnel. 1t relieved tn
pressure on the outer door, whicl
MIR. Birdsall pushed inward, allowing tn
men in the air-lock means of egress. N
volition of theirs was necessary to carr,
them out, for amid the heavy thud of fall
| ing earth and the crash of supporting
timbers the more terrible sound of rushing
water came fast upon them. A moment
in which Superintendent Woodland, witt
those who had gone in, cried out to thos
in the air-lock; go, hurry. do the bes
you can for yourselves and then come TO
US" and then that was the last seen o
him alive The eight men were swep
into the working shaft, where they reaches
the ladders in safety, leaving 20 of thei
fellows crushed or drowned
The men who were rescued did no
reach the surface moment too soon, TO
the water rushed after them with amazin
rapidity till it reached a level within fiv
feet of the top of the shaft. The SUI
vivors were so bewildered that they seme
to loose all presence of mind, even
assistance could be rendered the poor fel
lows in the pit. A messenger wns dls
patched for Colonel Haskins president Q
the Hudson River Tunnel Company, All
he reached the scene about O'Clock
AT this time an excited crowd had co
lected around the building enclosing III
shaft, aud it was found necessary to di'
patch several policemen to the place
prevent the crowd from breaking throug
the fence. Colonel Haskin sat to wor
Immediately in Superintendent Anderson
office and investigated the matter tho
oughly, subjecting all the survivors to
rigid examination. "We must now tur
orr attention." he said, 'tto recoverin
the bodies of the poor fellows who al
lost We will get to work with the pump
Immediately. 1t is terrible affair, an
all the more SO as it was tine result {
sheer carelelsness. There was no nece
sity for it." ....
While he was ..ssspeakine Policema
Fallahee had some difficulty in drivin
back from the fence two men who Wei
trying to force e passage. They said the
brother-in-law was among the dea(
, Superintendent Anderson, on hearii
their appeal, permitted them to pass iusit
the gate. by nine o'clock the crowd hf
increased to over !, 900 persons. A cordc
of police officers were stationed about Il
shed and engine room to prevent al
interference with the laborers at work
a recover the bodies.
Through the broken windows of Il
shaft-house the faces of distracted wive
mothers and children were seen wi
5 anguish. AT the doorway a woman cls
in faded shawl, with her hair streamin
i stood wringing her hands in despair. IN
= husband my husband !" were the wor
which fell from her pale lips. Throul
the crowd woman pressed and sought
d pass the ropes. Her face was white wi