Evening journal., 1890-09-05
TWO HEROES WHO DIED.
A Deadly CcsspooI Claims
Three Victims.
AsPHYxIATED by FOUL GASES.


and Two Others who Endeavored 10
Save Him Met Death Bereath the POL
sonous Waters of the Well.
WEST BRIGHTON. S. l., Sept. 5.-Three
men were sutfocated to death yesterday by
deadly gases in a cesspool back Of the resi-.
dence of Mrs. Sheehan, at the corner OF
Broadway and Henderson street One Of
the men, John Dillon, was the first to en-
ter the cesspool and was overcome by the
foul gas Mrs. Sheehans husband, Thorn
as, and James Fleming then went down
into the pool TO save Dillon, and they were
also overcome by the deadly vapor The
bodies Of the three men were taken from
the pool half an hour later
Only Foot Of Water.
The cesspool, which formed the death
trap for the three unfortunate men, was
nearly twenty feet deep. The waste pipes
from the sinks in the house emptied into
the cesspool, which contained yesterday
only about foot OF water, the pipes lead
ing 10 it having in some manner become
clogged up Mr. Sheehan had been at-
tempting for several days to clean ont the
pipes without going down into the cesspool.
lie found he could not accomplish his OBJ
lect IN that way and got John Dillon, Mrs.
Sheehan's brother TO help him.
To the Rescue and TO DEATH.
When the cap was lifted off the cesspool
Sheehan said, II guess it's all right don't
smell any gas Then Dillon secured
what tools he needed and mado the descent
in safety Suddenly Sheehan heard
muiled splash. He bent low over the edge
and, neering down, saw the outlines OF
Dillon's form, who was fast being over
CONS by the poisonous vapors, struggling
in the water. Sheehnn called down but re-
celyed no response. He became alarmed
aud hastily olambered down the ladder to
rescue the man.
A wonld-Be Rescuer Faints.
just then little JOHNNIE sheehan, who Is
l3 years Of age, came out Of the house and
approached the edge Of the pool lie looked
down, and 70 his horror saw his father and
uncle lying in heap in the pool He re-
allied that they were in danger, aud began
to cry out
His mother was the first to arrive al the
mouth OF the pool She tugged yainly at
the ropes which were hanging down into
the depths. james Campbell, living in
the next house, hearing her cries, rushed
out 70 the we'll. lie rapidly removed his
outer clothing, and fastening rope under
his armpits, descended the we'll instruct
ing the men, who by that time had arrived,
70 pull him mp when he gave the signal
lie WAS then lowered into the pool. He had
NOT got more than half way down when
the men above heard a smothered cry, and
feeling the rope violently jerked. pulled
MI go MAO NTal F.t..
A Third Man to the Rescue.
my Godl can't something DO done 70
save my hushandfn cried Mrs. Sheehan,
frantically. The woman became desper-
ate, and but for the presence OF the men
she would have forced herself down into
the pool to save her husband and brother
AZ this junctura James Fleming, another
neighbor arrived upon the scene. Flem-
ing threw OF his cont, and in a twinkling
he slid down the rope TO the ladder and de-
cended to the bottom A rush was made
to the mouth OF the pool 70 intercept him,
but, despite the cries and entreaties Of the
bystanders, Fleming bravely continued to
descend
He, Too, Went to Certail Death.
He held his breath as long as possible
long enough, in fact, TO enhble him to
tENNn Att attt NntIH 4 uNiuk1 CNtklhu ltAy
across the prustrate Lody Of John Dillon.
The persons who peercd down into the
black pool after Fleming saw him stoop
over as II TO pick up the body Of Sheehan.
The eye witnesses then saw the man stand
up straight as il to flee up the ladder, then
suddenly wheel abomt. throw up his hands
and fall backward into the shallow water.
A short bnt violent paroxysm followed,
the black waters were for the third time
violently agitated, and for the third time
within ten minutes human life was sacri-
feed IN the deadly eesspool.
The Crowd Fell Back in Terror.
The crowd was appalled, by the tragedy,
and the men fell back from the edge Of the
pool rs II in terror.
Fleming, the last man to lose his life in
the pool, had only taken leave of his wife
twenty minutes before ~ the depot. Mrs
Fleming did not know OF her husbands
death until she arrived in West Brighton
about o'clock last evening When a neigh
Dor ruslsed mp TO her and told her that her
husband was dead she fell in faint in the
street.
Ten children Made Fatherless.
The bodies were not taken from the pool
until fully bali an hour after Dillon had
gone down TO his death. Graphing irons
were obtained and the bodies OF the un-
fortunate men drawn one by one to the
surface. Sheahan and Fleming each leave
five children fatherless.