Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-07-22
FRleHiFUl DISASTER.
Twenty-Five Men Lose their lives
At Jersey City.
HerOism of Assistant Superintendent
Woodward.

JERSEY CRY. \. j., July 81. This morn
ing the caission surrounding deep well lead
ing to the entrance to Hudson river tunnel,
foot Of 10th street. caved in, carrying with it
an immense quantity of earth. Tweniy-one
men were buried. Several were taken out
alive Fourteen remained underneath the
water The river flooded in rapidly. A
steam fire engine was set at work TO. if pos
sihle. save those who might still be alive, from
drowning. Workmen residing in the vicinity
of the tunnel and very large and excited
crowd soon copgregated.
New YORK. July 81. TWENTY-FIVE men
lost their lives in the Hudson river tunnel at
Jersey City. this morning, while eight had an
almost miraculous escape. The night gang
OF thirty men, including Asst. Supt. Wood
ward and two firemen, entered the shaft at
midnight TO work. At 5 O'Clock the depth of
the shaft was % feet. Most of the men were
employed at the bottom of the shaft. About
third of the gang were engaged on the brick
wall of the arch, % feet higher. Ii was the
latter squad. vino were all bricklayers. that
escaped except two. The main arch of the
tunnel runs ont from the shaft 80 feet, when
il opens into Two distinct arches that are to
form the tunnel. Through some negligence,
il is supposed, the air lock was not properly
adjusted. When the process of shifting COM
menccd, the brick wall connecting the two
arches gave way, and the water rushed into
the caves. Three men. names not known,
are missing. Officials say they must have
persisted. James Crevy is also reported
among the lost. The superintendent thinks
the air in the tunnel must have escaped
through a sill. One hundred men are ut work
to-day on new passage to the tunnel. but
they will not be able to reach there in less
than three days.
The following statement was made by one
of the men saved: Eight men escaped. One
man in trying 10 pass through the door lead
ing from the air lock into the temporary
chamber of the tunnel, was jammed in the
doorway and despite the efforts of those ahead.
could not be brought out, as the door closed
npon him and held him fast. Asst. Supt.
Woodward told the men TO try and get out,
and when the ninth man was fastened in the
doorway called out 10 those wLo had escaped,
telling them TO hurry and try to get assistance
To hell them.
He refused to leave himself, saving he
would stay and make every effort to get the
rest ont. The other men who escaped speak
in high terms of Woodward's heroism. 1t
will take three days to rescue the bodies.
At Hudson tunnel this afternoon, work
men have been rigging a strong pump for
drawing the water out of the tunnel, which is
filled to the extreme. Water in the shaft has
fallen ten feet since morning. in consequence
of the receding tide. 1t is impossible that
any imprisoned workman are alive, as the
water is within the whole length of the tun-
mel IN up to the roof and even above it. 1t
is impossible TO force any air into the tunnel,
as that which has been forced in has escaped
through the shaft. 1t is feared only seven
men escaped, as one reported saved is mis-
sing.