Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-04-24
SWEPT INTO THE SEWER
A Most Remarkable Drowning
Accident at New York.
JOHN oALLAHAEs AWFUL DEATH.

He Slipped Into an Open Manhole, YAM
ished with a Scream Beneath the Rush.
Ing Waters Of the Sewer and Was Borne
Away Toward the East River.
NEW YORK, April e4.-John Callahan
thirty-five years old, laborer employed
by the Consolidated Gas company 10 ex
cavating for new main on Twenty
street. near Third avenue, met horrible
fate last evening. While at work near an
open manhole, which connects with the
main sewer under the street, his feet slip
ped and he fell through the hole into the
sewer and was carried away by the torrent
of water. The sewer was full as a result
Of the heavy rain storm, and the torrent
rushed toward the East river at the rate OF
twenty miles an hour.
There may have been small space be.
tween the surface Of the torrent and the
sewers top, but this space must have been
filled with foul gases. No human being
could have retained life In that atmos-
phere.
Horrible Fate.
In consequence Of this, il Callahan was
not killed instantly by his fall, but sue
ceeded in raising his head above the water.
he died Of suffocation. His body has not
been recovered, and the police believe that
| it has caught IN the maze Of branch sewers
that abound in the vicinity Of Twenty
I third street and Third avenue.
The tide may bring the body out today.
or 1t may find permanent grave there, as
| the sewer Is the abode of swarms OF fero-
cious water rats-and human bones viii
| not float.
| Disappeared with Scream.
Callahan and a man named Peter Brod-
erick, according to the story told by boy
| named John Nolan, of 1853 East Twenty
| third street. attempted to place Temporal
ry closet over the open hole The street
had been filled with water by the rain
storm and the mud from the excavation
| made the paving very slippery.
The men had difficulty In moving the
house and Nolan watched them until they
had moved the shanty to within a foot Of
the opening. Callahan attempted to pass
around to the other side OF the house,
while Broderick remained in his original
position. Callahan had hardly taken two
strides when his feet slipped from under
him, and with a scream he threw up both
arms and disappeared down through the
! mouth Of the manhole.
4 Swept Away to the River
III The brick sides Of the opening were GOV.
i cred with slime and the unfortunate man
had no opportunity to save himself
III The opening OF the manhole at the sur.
4 face OF the street Is about thirteen feet
4 above the sewer and the latter is about
! four feet in diameter. The hole was dark
4 and Nolan could not see whether Callahan
was unconscious, but he saw the torrent
catch his body and sweep it under the
lower edge Of the manhole in the direction
Of the East river The other workman
I named Broderick, who was arrested, re-
= lated a story directly opposite of that told
D by Nolan. Broderick said that Callahan
Z had been Ill all day and visited the shanty
! which had been placed over the opening
X several days ago.
y At half past he entered the place anc
y fell through the opening in some nanncl
IS unknown. Brodrick denied that he stoot
near the manhole when Callahan fel
through and said that he WAS engaged OF
the main sewer 200 feet away.
III A well dressed man who chanced TO pas
q few minutes after the accident stoo,
4 over the manhole an1 effered twenty-five
I. dollars to anybody who would venture int
!. the sewer after Callahan. Nobody accept
i ed the offer. An immense crowd gathered
. and watched the attempts to find the bod!
!. until late hour last night.