Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-07-30
DEATHS HARVEST.
Sad Accident I'm a TunneI.-IIow n Brave
Man Can Die.-Over Twenty Souls Hur-
ried into Eternity.

Sad Aceident I'm a TunneI.-IIow "A Brave
Man Can Die.-Over Twenty Souls Hur-
ried into Eternity.
A few days ago, caisson surrounding
the deep well leading to the entrance of
the Hudson River tunnel, at the foot of
10th street, Jersey City, caved in, carry
ing with it an immense quantity of earth.
The water from the river flowed in rap
idly, and q steam fire engine was set to
work to, if possible, save those who |
might still be alive from drowning. The
workmen resided in the vicinity of the
tunnel, and very large and excited
crowd of persons soon congregated. 1t
appears that the night gang of thirty
men and two firemen, entered the shaft
at midnight, the hours of work for this
gang being from IL to o'clock. The
depth of the shaft is siXty-livel feet
While most of the men were employed
at the bottom of the shaft, about one
third of the gang were engaged on
brick wall of the arch, twenty-five feet
higher. 1t was the latter squad, who
were all bricklayers, that escaped except
two. The main arch of the tunnel runs
out from the shaft thirty feet, when it
opens into two distinct arches that are
to form the tunnel.
One of the men who was saved, thus
describes the catastrophe: There were
twenty-three men at work in the tunnel ;
they went on at IL o'clock last night for
an eight-hour shift; | was at work near
the east end of the waste lock and in the
west end of the tunnel; it was about
half-past four o'clock that / heard the
bolts snap and the braces give way at
the same time felt rush of air in my
face; l started back with seven men who
were near me, and ran into the waste
lock; the air pressure crowded the dool
shut at the east end; at first it was block
ed by a ioist, which we pulled out, anC
o then the door slammed to; the lock ha
doors at both ends, and glass dead-eye
: to admit the light; through the dead
I ewes we could see the men inside the tun
e mel; water was fast rushing in; Pete
: Woodland, assistant superintendent
o stood at the door outside the waste-locB
. which was stationary; it would nc
IS move with us without knocking out tn
e dead-eyes; this would be fatal to til
e men outside, as water would rush in an
l. drown the men in an instant. Woodlan
a knew this, but stood at the door; his fax
y was CHASTITY white, and he realized tt
le terrible danger. He said to me, "Ton
oU Quick. burst the dead-eyes, and do VIII;
le Won can for us!n | knew it was death
Sc us ali if l did not, so l obeyed the ordel
III as the glass broke the air rushed in, al
~ the waste lock shot out into the ma
''C shaft, leaving the men to drown, as Il
"S space occupied blythe shaft filled vii
eh water in an instant; we were Who'll
IL stripped of our clothes when we craWl
III out; | heard the water at our back;
eu filled in fast, but the distractions kept
IT. back long enough for us to escape fro
~ the main shaft; it was all we could
ID TO save ourselves. Woodland was stan
ing in the water up to the waist wher
'us last saw him; it was sure death; | h
ei to knock out the dead-eyes, as | toldyo
ao he knew as well as |, that it was all oy
III with them; l shall never forget the 10
DO on his face. or the sound of his voice,
DC he told us to save ourselves. though
'yS very act was to insure his death.
The air lock is large cylindri
pie room, through which compressed air
lao pumped, and which supports the root
her the tunnel. The men usually remail
on in the lock about twelve minutes. !
gang of eignt, who had had their m
and passed into the tunnel from
lock, were among the lost, those in
Dr. lock being saved. Even they were tt
reat time in jeopardy, and barely escaped
oul- the working shaft rapidly filled "
ling water to a depth of six feet. The SUI
the intendent is unable as yet to detern
,wl- the cause of the disaster, 1t may h
The been caused by the loosening of ont
, be the plates through which the compre
,uld air escapes. The tunnel had been C
ards pleted for a distance of about 800
hey and entirely built up, except just out
,ody the shaft, where only the outside Ill
Net of the tunnel is put up. These pl'
eive until the masonry is put up, are SUPP
hich ed by heavy beams, and it is supp
,uld, that one of these beams became loos'
,arly and the plate moved from its post
Ibers allowing the air to escape, and the
g to sening of the power which held the
yeen caused the ground to cave in. Witt
be short time after the accident, the
ers." was surrounded by excited people, an
Lon whom were the wives and childrt
some the unfortunate men, whose cries
fifty heart-rending.
ated,
n-4H