National Republican., 1880-07-22
A SHOCKING CASUALTY.
Twenty Men Buried and Drowned In the
Hudson Tunnel.
Crowds F1ocling TO the Scene In searoh
OF Missing Husbands, Fathers
and Sons.
Terrible Accident at Hudson River Tunnel


Terrible Accident at Hudson River Tunnel
JERSEY CrTy, N. j., July "l.-At O'CLOCK
this morning the calson surrounding the dccp
well leading TO the entrance OF the hudson
riyor tunnel, In course of construction at tile
foot of Sixteenth street, In this city, caved III
carrying with It an immense quantity OF
earth. Twonty-one men were buriedi seven
were soon afterward taken out aliyo and four
teen remained underneath. The water from
the river flowed in rapidly and the steam fro
engines were set to work to, if possible, save
those who might still be alive from drowning.
The workmcn resided in tho vicinity OF the
tunnel, and very largo and excited crowd OF
persons soon congrcgated.
The news of the disaster spread like wild
FIRE through the surrounding cities. From all
points immense crowds thronged to the scene
OF the calamity. About the fatal excavation
the awe struck spectators stood. A Gordon oil
policc officers were stationed about tho shed
and ongine-room to prevent any interference
with the labOrers at work TO recover the
bodies Though the brnkcn windows of the
shaft.houses tho faces 0f distracted wives,
mothers and children were seen with anguish,
and they sought in vain for forms that would
never be seen again alive.
AN OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE DISASTER.
The following Is the official report of the
Hudson River Tunnel company. through its
engineers (Dlessrs. Speilman aud Brush), relat-
ing TO the accident to the Hudson river tun'
mel, which occurred at the foot OF Fifteenth
street, Jersey City: This morning, about 1870,
while tho men wero changing shins, that por-
tion Of the iron roof adjoining the shalt OF
the connecting chambers between the two
tunnels and the sinking shat foil in. Twenty
eight men were in the tunnel Mt tho time of
who,H eight escaped through the air lock and
twenty were killed. 1ho accident occurred
at the connection of the iron plates with the
brick wal of the working shaft, which
during the changing Of the shifts was probably
not watched by the men rs closely as 1t should
have been aud the compressed air was allowed
60 escape. This compressed air is relied upon to
assist in supporting the roof, which was also
sustained by strong timber bracingi ana escape
of the air has always been prevented by stop
ping any leaks with the waste silt. AS the
roof fell the plate closed the door OF the air
lock into the tunnel, and the water rising
rapidly cut of the escape of the twenty men
who were killed. The building Of this con-
Meeting chamber, though a difficult piece oil
work, progressed until now. The roof was all
IN position and securely boltod. The connec-
tion ofthe iron plates with the shaft was being
made at the time of The accident Work will
be prosecuted night aud day with all the men
that can be advanlageously employed untt
the bodies arc recovered, which will probably
take about three days. The accident viii
probably delay the work for three wcoks.
STATEMENT or ONE or TIE RESCUED.
Thomas Van Nostrand, one of the men res
cued In the waste lock, gave u reporter
thrilling account of his narrow escape HI
said: "Thcre were twcnty-cight men at work il
hetunnel. They went on at IL oclock last nigh
for an eight-hour shift. / was ut work nea
the east end Of tho waste lock and in the ives
end of the tunnel. 1t was at about $3.50 o'clocl
that heard tho bolts snap and the braces Civ
way. At tho same time | felt n rush of air il
my face. ! started back with seven of th
men who were near me aud ran into the vast
lock. The air pressure crowded the doors shu
Mt the cast end. At first it was blocked by
joist, which VIC pulled out and then the doc
slammed to. Tho lock has doors ut both end
md glass dcadeyes to admit the light. Through
tho dcadeyes we could see the mon inside tin
tunnel. The water was rushing in.
HEROIC sELFpEvoTIoN OF AN AssIsTA nj
''Petcr Woodland, the city assistant, stoo,
ut the door outside the waste lock, which wa
stationary. II would not move with us with
out knocking out the deadGyes. This woult
be fatal to the men outside, as the water woul,
rush in and drown the men in an instant
Woodland knew this, but he stood at the dool
His face was ghastly white, and he realize,
quick! hurst the deadeycs and do wha
you cau for u.s.. / knew it was death +
us all IL did not So obcyod the order
AS the glass broke tho air rushed in, aud tn
waste lock shot out into the main shaft, leavn
tho men to drown, rs the space occupied by tn
Shaft filed with water in an instant. w
were wholly stripped of our clothes when W
crawled out. l heard the rush of the waite
ut our back. 1t filled in fast, but the obstruC
tons kept 1t back long enough for us to escap
from the main shaft 1t was all we could d
TO save ourselves. Woodland was standing /
the water up to his waist when last saw hin
1t WAS sure DEATH and had to knock out th
deadeyes as l told you. He knew rs we
RS / that ii was all over with them.
shall never forget the look on his face, OF tn
sound of his voice, as he told us to save Oul
selves, though the very act was to insure b
DEATH"
ANOTHER STATEMENT.
Tho following statement was made by on
OF the men who escaped After eight men ha
escaped one man, in trying to pass throug
tho door leading from the air-ock to the ten
porary chamber of tho tunnel was jamme
in the doorway, and despite the efforts
those ahead could not bo brought out, us I'll
door closed upon him and held him fast. Pete
Woodland, the assistant superintendent, tol
the men 10 try and get out, and when I'll
ninth man was fastened in the doorway callc
out to those who had escaped, telling them
harry aud try to got assistance TO help H.
rest aud himself, who were left behind. II
refused to leave himself saying that he woul
stay and make every effort to get the rest on
and If it were not possible that those who wo
escaping must try to get tho rest and himso
out alive, If possible.
The men who were rescued did not reaC
the surface moment too soon, for the wat
rushed after them with amazing rapidity Il
II reached level within five feet Of the /,
of the shaft, Tho survivors were go bewi
dered that they seemed TO lose all presence
mind, oven if assistance could be rendered
the poor follows In the pit. Nearly all II
men employed in the tunnel lived in pro
unity to the works in Thirteenth, FourteonI
and Fifteenth streets and friends and relativ
rushed to the place in most excited frame
mind.
The Late Earthquake at Manila.
MADRID, July 21,--Seiamie disturbances
the island of Luyon commanced mn tho "a