Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-11
THE LATE DISASTER.
NARROWING STORY or ABE TAYLOR,
ONE OF THE SURVIVORS.
Three Bodies Recovered Yesterday
Pumping Air a. q Means Of Re-
covery Given Up.
rBy telegraph 70 the Dispstcn.l

LOUISVILLE, KY, January 10.--At 1870
o'clock this morning the bodies of three OF
the unfortunate victims Of the caissoi ac-
cident were recovered by workmen. The
positions in which they were found show
cd that o desperate struggle had taken
place at the narrow door of escape. One
negro had succeeded in pulling his body
through the aperture. but death had over
taken him Just when life was promised.
Another negro had crawled partly
through. His hands were fastened by
death in the clothing of the negro IN front
of him, showing that he had died in des-
perate endeavor TO escape first Between
two negroes was the body OF a white man.
1t appeared from his position that he was
trying to push back some ono who was
clinging TO his legs. The sand accumula-.
ting Of the door by the sudden sinking Of
the cakson had wedged in the body of q
white man in such q manner that il could
not be removed. At 1890 o'clock work was
discontinued in order 10 allow the work
men TO rest and refresh themselves. Later
fresh force was put on duty and the work
renewed.
Abe Taylor. one Of the negro laborers
who survived the terrible catastrophe. was
found AT his home on Preston street by
reporter. He had not entirely recovered
from the fright incident to his late expert
euce and his voice trembled as he told
what happened at the bottom OF the river.
las near as ] can remember" he said,
there were eighteen of us who went
down. Some Of US had candles in our
hands and Others carried tools wo worked
with. The engine WAS pumping ar into
the caisson. We we're not thinking of dan
ger and did not have any idea that there
was weak point in the casing. We were
talking and running on with each other
Just as we always do. Somebody said We
would he relieved in about two hours and
! replied that | wished il was now.
looked 70 see how near the calsson was TO
the sand bottom and was standing close to
the little door when heard somebody say:
Great God, men, she is breaking! just
then water commenced to rush through
the shell doors and il seemed as II
everything gave way at once. | broke
for the door. | hardly know how
/ did it. but | managed to get through:
The men behind me were rushing and
tumbling over each other. and | could hear
them crying, We're lost Help! help!
Nv God, save us,' Badly frightened as |
was, couldn't help but pity them. / could
do nothing for them, so helped myself
| could hear water rushing III on the poor
fellows as / climbed up through the man
hole. but their cries sounded louder than
the roar of the water. got out safely, and
thanked God for my deliverance. never
will forget that awful sight as long as 1
live"
Taylor was asked if he thought that by
any possible means the men could live
until help reached them. mo, sir: they
| could not live. Tho water is running IN
faster than all the engines can force it ont.
| There isn't any way for them 70 escape"
Further investigation shows two more
men to have lost their lives. Hamilton Nor
ris and Lewis Cox, making total OF slx-
teen.
Efforts to recover the bodies in the
bridge caisson by pumping air have been
given up and in the morning the men Will
be sent in by the excavation-shaft. IL IL
hoped that the thirteen remaining bodies
will be taken out and the inquest will be
held at once. The body of Hamilton Nor
ris was recovered in pipe.