Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-16
RATHER CLOSE CALL,
ASeWer Break Nearly Engulfs
A Flying Engine.
VELOCITY A SAVING GRACE
The Conduit Gave Way Under the
A. Y. r. r. Tracks.
TRAINS Run VERY CAREFULLY
VELOCITY A SAVING GRACE
TRAINS RUN VERY CAREFULLY

A Lucy Furnace switch engine pushed a
long train of ore cars down one of the side
tracks of the Allegheny Valley Railroad
across Forty-eighth street, and. relieving
itself of the load, started back to the fur
naces, the time being about $50 yesterday
afternoon. Just at Forty-eighth street,
while bowling along at about five miles an
hour, the engine gave a terrific lurch, and
one side of it sank with the rail nearly
three feet, while a subdued subterranean
murmur and the swish of angry waters be-
low the track level showed that the 81 foot
sewer underneath the tracks had fallen in.
The engine spun around, and the momen-
tum carried it forward upon solid ground.
1t turned half around, and dug into the
ground, tracks, ties and mud flying in every
direction. There were three furnace
men upon the fooiboard in front of
the engine, and each and all of them de-
seribed sundry parabolas and curves before
landing on terra frma. All of them were
badly frightened; one Of them fell on his
back and was badly shaken up, and the
amount of Lawrenceville mud on each
mans clothes would have enabled him to
start q cabbage patch in New England,
where alluvial soil is scarce, but none of
the three were unable to continue their sim
gularly interrupted journey. The engineer
and fireman jumped, and, although bruised,
were not injured appreciably. The speed at
which the engine was running had unques-
tionably saved five human lives.
VERY SINGULAR ACCIDENT.
The accident presented many curious
phases. Only one of the rails sank, that
nearest the river. The explanation of this
lies in the fact that the caving in of the
earth beneath the track extended under the
track only half way. The rail
the engine had the contact of weight
time to break, singular statement, but one
which almost any veteran railroader can
vouch for. Had the engine been running
slowly the rail directly over the hole would
have snapped of, and the engine would have
toppled into cavity big enough to contain
two engines and tender or two. The men
who so fortunately escaped stood by with
blanched faces and looked at the hole and
the surging waters at the bottom of it with
feelings too deep for utterance.
Mr.. j. B. Shale, Yard Superintendent of
the Allegheny Valley Railroad, was quickly
upon the spot, and with an engine pulled
the wrecked engine back upon the tracks
and towed it up to the furnace in badly
disabled condition. When he came to
examine the damage he found that the
break was 25 feet deep, about 15 feet in
width, and long enough to render useless
three side tracks, all there are at
that point. 1t was feared that the
two main tracks were affected, but it was as
certained that the break was ten feet distant
from tine main track rail nearest the river,
and that the crown of the sewer exposed by
the break was in seemingly sound condition.
Mr.. Shale remembered that when the sewer
was put down about IA wears ago a number
of 12x16 heavy pine girdeys were laid across
the chasm, forming bridge. Several trains
loaded with passengers had come up mean
while. They we're detained until an ex-
cavation had been made to determine the |
number, condition and strength of the |
girders The heaviest engine on the road, !
one weighing 11S,0OO pounds was run |
slowly over the spot. No effect was had on /
the solidity of the tracks, and it was Judged |
safe to run the trains. They were accord |
ingly put into motion.
THE GAS ESCAPED.
In the muddy cavern could be seen the |
eight-inch water pipe of the city water |
works and the Philadelphia natural gas |
main. Gas was smeIt very strongly, and it |
was found that the two-inch pipe OF the |
City Gas Company had been snapped short |
of. All the companies were notified imme- |
diatelv, and all dispatched men to the spot. |
Mr.. Linn, of the Philadelphia Company, |
stated to a DISPATCH reporter that the |
eight-inch main was incased in a II cast
iron sleeve, and even If a much greater
part Of 1t was deprived OF support than he |
found to be the case, there was no danger of
a break by sagging of its own weight
Proper precautions were taken, however, bv
all concerned, and watchmen were stationed |
to look out for contingencies.
Division Superintendent Price came ont
later in the evening, and approved of Mr..
Shaie's movements. Mr.. Price said that if
those big girders had not been in position
across the sewer the whole traffic would have
been suspended blythe accident As it is all
the side tracks are useless. Mr.. Price said that
the company would hereafter bridge every
sewer in order to be provided against such
All the usual trains were
taken over the crossing, but the engineers
were very gingerly iu the matter of running
smoothly.
Street Commissioner Hunter was early on
the scene of the accident. He said that
early in the morning the break would be
repaired. Further up the street bad break
took place early yesterday. The rush of
water through the cemetery drain drowned
out the workmen and caved in the sides of
the sewer, making a hole the width of the
street The foundations of a S12 600 block
Of houses belonging to Michael Kane were
Effected, and the houses will tall if much
more csving takes place. Contractor Gala
CHER had pump at work all day, and will
try to check the trouble. In the present
state of affairs the old residents anticipate a
food like that OF IA, when much property
was destroyed.