The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-07-29

It was this i&ttef squad; Who Weio or
bricklayers, that escaped, except two.
The main arch of the tunnel runs out
from the ,gshah ai distance of about
thirty feet, when it "Opens into two dis
tinct arches that form the tunnel
Through some negligence of the men IL
is3sup,bosea that the air lock was not
properly adjusted. When the process OF Of
connecting the two arches gave way, an, ana
the water rushed into the cave: Inc
superintendent thinks the air lnT the
tunnel must have escaped through the
silt. he has put gang of one hundred
men at work to dig q new passage 70 tle
tunnel, But they viii not be able to reach
there in less than three days.
AN OFFICIAL ACCOUNT.
The following is the official report OF
The Hudson River Tunnel Company
through ,its-eneineerss NJ Messrs. Speilman
and Brush. -tehE6g Wthe accident to the
Hudson River Tunnel, which occurred
mt thS M6f ar BixteebM street, Jersey
City: .,,.--a
O'Clock, while the men were changing
shifts, that portion Of the iron roof a.; e ;
ioi1ihE the sshaft Of stha connectIpg
cham6ers between tie. two tunnels and
the sinking shaft fell in. Twenty-eight
men we're in. the tunnel at the time, OF
whom eight escaped through the air.iock
and twenty were killed. The accident
occurred at the connection Of the iron
platesi Nth tile brick wall the working
shaft. which, during the changing OF
shifts, was probably not watched by the
men as closely as it should have oeen,
and the compressed air was allowed to
escape. This compressed air is relied
upon to assist in supporting the roof,
which was also sustained by strong
ti,nher.bfacing, and the escape OF air
has always been prevented by stopping
any5 leaks with waste silt. As the roof
fell the plate closed the door of the air
lock into the tunnel, and the water
rising rapidly cut off the escape OF the
twenty men who were killed"
FURTHER DETAILS. -
Fl.e building of -the-eonnecting cham
her, though a difficult piece of work,
progressed until now. The Goof was all
in position. and securely Solteds The
connection of the iron plates was being
made at the time of the accident. The
work will be prosecuted night and day
with all the men that can be e&advantage-
ously used until the bodies can he recov-s
cred, which will, probably take about
days the accident will probably delay the
work about three weeks.
The following statement vas made by
one i0f the men! who escaped: After
eight men had escaped one man In trying
20 pass through the door leading from
the air-lock into the temporary chamber
of the tunnel wes jainmed in the door
way, and in spite of, the efforts of those
:head could not be brought out, as the
door closed upon him and held him fast
Peter Woodland, assistant superinteu-
dent, told the men to, try and get out,
and when !. the u ninth man was
fastened in the doorway called out to
those who bad escaped, telling them to
hurryiand try and get assistance to help
the--rest and himself who were left
hehind. He refused to leave himself,
saving that be would stay and make
Observation-Disclosures rest out, and if it
were not pSsible, That those who tescap:
ing must try to get the rest and himself
Out, alive if possible.
Almost ali of those killed, as well as
those saved, resided in jersey City
The men who were rescued did not reach
the surface moment too soon, for the
water rushed after them. with. amazing
rapidity till it reached a level within FIVE
feet of the top of the shaft. The survi..
vors were so bewildered that they seemed
to lose all presence of mind, even if
assistance could be rendered to the poor
fellows in the pit. Nearly all the men
employed in thestunuel lived in proximi-
ty to the works in 18th. 14th and
18th streets; and their friends and rela-
tives rushed to the place in the most
excited frame of mind, The news of the
disaster s,Tead like wild.6re through the
surrounding cities. From all points i'm.
mense crowds thronged to the scene Of
the calamity. About the fatal excava-
ton the awe-stricken spectators stood.
A Gordon of police officers were station
ed about the shed and engine room
to prevent any interference with the
Jaborers at work to recover the bodies.
Through the broken windows of the
shaft.6ouse the faces of distressed wives.
mothers and children were seen distorted
with anguish as they sought in vain for
the forms that would never be seen again
alive. :.
Thomas Van Nostrand, one of the men
rescued in the waste lock, gave a
reporter thrilling account of his narrow
escape. He said There were twenty
eight men at work'in the tunnel. They
went on II o'clock last night for an
eipht hour shift. was at work near the
east end of the waste lock and in the
west end of the tunnel. 1t was about
half.past4 o'clock that I heard the bolts
snap and the braces give way. AT the
same time l felt rush OF air In
INV face. / started back with seven of
the men who were near me and ran into
the air lock. The aif pressure crowded
the door shut at the east end. At first it
was blocked by joist which we pulled
ont. and then the door slammed to. The
lock has doors at both ends and glass
beadeyes to admit light. Through the
deadeyes we could see the men inside the
.nnuel. The water was rushing in.
Peter Woodland, city assistant superin-
tendent, stood at the door outside the
waste lock which was stationary. 1t
" mld not move without our knocking
ont the deadeyes. This would be fatal
Tn the men outside as the water would
,,et in and drown the men in an instant.
Wnodlaud knew this, but be stood at the
dmr. His face was ghasty white ana
he realized the danger. He said to me,
"rom. quick, burst the deadeyes and do
what YOU can for u.s." 1 knew it was
na oil if did not do so, and