The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-10-30
FATAL FUMES,
A Party of Fire Workmen Overcome by
Gas in a Sewer at Chicago-Three of
Them Lose Their Lives.

A Party of Fire Workmen Overcome by
Gas in a Sewer at Chicago-Three of
Them Lose Their Lives.
CHICAGO, Oct 24.-Treacherous sewer
gas claimed the lives OF three men in the
town of Lake yesterday Edward McCar-
thy, Peter Mooney and Stephen Brennock
are dead from its effects, and John Smith
and Patrick MeInerney seriously i'll. Bren-
mock was the foreman Of gang of men in
the employ of the Union Rendering Com
pany, who had been engaged in skimming
the grease from the filthy water that
flows through the Stock-Y ards sewer The
sewer crosses the stock yards in asoutherly
direction and emptieS into the stagnant
south branch, and is the receptacle of the
Offal and filth of the packing-houSe district
Brenock was notified yesterday that the
flow OF the sluggish current was stopped,
and was directed to remove the obStruc-
lions. After an investigation the OBJ
stacle was located in the northern
division of the yards, near the outlet of
an eighteen-inch drain-pipe, connecting
the sewer with Armour IL Co.'S pack
ing house. The cover of a manhole was
lifted and ladder lowered into the thick,
Shiny pool below. The sewer is five feet
in diameter and its bottom at this point is
about ten feet below the surface of the
ground. Mccarthy and Mooney entered
the sewer and after remaining short time
were compelled to come out for breathing
time. After a short period Mccarthy
and Mooney descended the ladder
second time to continue their work.
A few steps from the foot of the
ladder Mccarthy, who was slightly lis
advance of his fellow-workman, encOunt.
cred the flow of the deadly gas, and pitcheS
forward on his face into the reeking cess
pool. At the same instant the fatal blast
struck Mooney, who turned to make his
escape. He seized the rotten rung of the
crazy ladder. 1t broke beneath his weight
and he fell back against McCarthy's body.
Brennock heard the cries of the
sutfOcating men, and calling the
other wOrkmen to aid him descended
to the rescue. He grasped Mooney, but the
sitting fumes filled his throat and lungs,
and he too, fell into the sluice. Smith
and McInerney started down the broken
ladder to rescue Brennoc&. Before Smith
reached the bottom of the ladder he was
overcome by the gas. McInerney seized
Smith by the coat collar and held him,
While others pulled both men out of the
death-hOle.
A crowd had gathered by this time, and
men ran to the packing-house for pike
poles. The gas poured out of the man.
hole in volumes sufficient to daze the by
ISLANDERS; but the work of rescue did not
flag. The pike-poles were twisted in
to Brennock's clothing and he was
hauled out. A faint Pickering
pulse was perceptible, and efforts to revive
him were at once begun, which after a
time proved successful, but the unfortunate
man died late last evening. McCarthy's
body was not found for three hours after
his fatal entrance into the sewer, and he
was, of course, quite dead, as was Mooney.
Brennock and Mooney were married, the
former leaving wife and seven children,
and the latter wife and four children
Smith and McInerney will recover.