The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1890-01-11
\ HORRIBLE DISASTER.
SIXTEEN MEN KILLED by \
BURSTING CAISSON.
scenes at the Death HOle-Ap.
pearance Ofthe Deasl-The story
Of the Destruction an Told by
One of the saved.

LOUISVILLE, ny. January 1O.-SiXtccI
men were drowned here by the breaking
of caisson used in the construction o
the new bridge of the Louisville ant
Nashville railroad yesterday. The par
| ticulars aremost appalling.
At 1920 O'Clock this morning the
bodies of three OF the unfortunate victims
were recovered by workmen. The posi-
tions in which they were found showed
that desperate struggle had taker
place at the narrow door of escape
One negro had succeeded in pulling his
body through the aperture, but death
had ovcrtaken him just when life was
promised. Another negro had crawletl
partly through, his hands were fastened
by death in the clothing of negro i'll
front of him, showing that he had died
in the desperate endcavor to escape first.
Between the two negroes lay the body
of white man. 1t appeared from his
position that he was trying to push
back some one who was clinging to his
legs. The sand accommodating AT the
door by the sinking of the caisson had
wedgcd in the body of the white man in
such manner that it could not he
removed. At 1890 Il. M, work was dis
continued in order to 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 laborcrs
who survived the terrible catastrophe,
was found at his home on Preston street
by reporter. He had not entirely re-.
covered from the fright incident to his
late experience, and his voice trcmhlcd as
he told what happened at the bottom OF
the river. AS 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 the tools
we worked with. The engine was pump.
ing air into the caisson. We were not
thinking Of danger and didn't have any
idea that there was weak point in the
caisson. Somebody said, we would be
relieved in about two hours, and re-
piled, that wished it was now. |
looked to see how near the caisson was
to the sand bottom, and was standing
close by the little door when heard
somebody say, Great God, men she is
breaking.
lust then the water commenced to rush
through the shell doors and il seemed aS
il 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 tum-
bling over each other and | could hear
them crying, we're lost, help. help my
God save us. Badly frightened as
was | couldn't help but pity them. |
could do nothing for them so helped
myself. lcould hear water rushing in
on the poor fellows as | climbed up
through the man.hole, but their cries
sounded louder than the roar of the wa-
ter. lgot out safely and thanked God
for my dclivcruncc. ! never will forget
that awful sight as long as live"
Taylor was asked it he thought that
by any possible means the men could live
until help reached them. "No sir, they
couldn't live" he replied. THE water is
running in faster than all the engines can
force ii out. There isn't any way for
them to escape"