The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-09-27
mill CREEK DENOUNCED
Did 1t Cause the Mercer
Street Sewer Trag-
edY?
CAN WELL BE SPARED, ANY WAY.
Sewers Not Cleaned Until Com
planned of-Effects of Mayor
Wanser's ECONOMY"

At Roche's Hall, last night, Coroner
Fahertv and jury concluded the inquest
into the deaths of Edward McAnally,
Anton Valinski and Thomas Kane. who
were suffocated by gas in a sewer a5
Brunswick and Mercer streets, on Sep.
tember 10. The verdict was character
istlc of Coroner's Jury. 1t was lengthy
and stated in substance "that the men
came to their death from causes un-
known, and recommended that the Mayor
take prompt steps to secure the closing
OF Min Greek; as it was continued
menace to the health of the neighbor-
hood"
Several witnesses graphically told of
Ruggles was first heard. He testified
that the sewer in which the men lost
their lives was an eighteen-inch Vitritied
pipe sewer and was built In 1871. He ex-
hlblted diagram of the manholes and
said he could not procure diagram Of
the diagram and asked the Chief Engi-
neer several questions. The Chief Engi-
neer said he never examined the sewer,
as It was not his duty to do SO. John S.
DAILY had charge of the sewers and was
supposed to keep them in order. The
means besides the flow Of the tide should
be used to carry off the sewage, A bill
to provide for This was prepared and sub
mltted to the last Legislature but was
defeated.
John S. DAILY. the foreman of the sewer
cleaning gang, and VINO lives at No. a5
Old Bergen road, was the next witness.
He said he was employed by the Street
and Water Board and generally got his
orders in the office. He had nine men
under his charge and except when at
work on main sewer divided the men
into gangs. At the time OF the accident
the witness was in Greenville,
TESTS FOR GAS.
1.-THE emen generally, after they take
the manhele off, the witness testified,
stand over them for a while TO see if
there is any gas escaping. The men
never expect to find gas in
a lateral sewer They generally
the Italian, had been knocked out by gas
q half a dozen times, and McAnally had
often been taken sick in sewer, bat had
been pulled mp in time to save his life.
When man goes down in a Sc ewer there
are always two or three men around the
top prepared to render him assistance in
case he is overcome. | have been en-
ployed by the Street and Water Board
since 1888, and during that time the sewer
in which the men lost their lives was
never cleaned. / don't know IL it was
ever cleaned. Our orders to clean sewers
are generally prompted by complaints OF
the Health Inspector or citizens.S
Daniel Sullivan, who came within an
ace of losing his life along with the three
other men. was the next witness and
gave graphic account of the accident.
son the afternoon of the accident" the
witness testified, I'VE were working on the
Mercer and Brunswick street sewer.
did not like the job, as there was little
water in the sewer, and 1 told Valinski
so. He said there was no danger. l was
at work opening the next manhole above
where rhe accident occurred when Moran,
who was at the top of the man hole in
which Valinski was, called out for pick.
l ran down with the pick and handed it
through the opening to VaIinski. Isaw
Vallnski make couple of blows with the
pick Then the piok fell from his hand
and he threw up both hands with moan
and fell.
AN UNFoRGoTTEN MOMENT.
II went down and caught hold of him
by the collar. His eyes opened and closed
and felt my grip loosen. / remembered
nothing more. | do remember having
hold of him by the coat and the look hs
gave me-"
Patrick Moran. of No. 1858 Henderson
street, was another one of the gang at
work on the sewer.
II was standing at the top of the man
hole" he testified. ''when Tony threw
up the shovel and asked for a pick. When
Tony got the pick he poked at the clav.
The next minute he threw up both hands
and sank from view. Sullivan went
down and caught him by the coat. and
then began to sink. We caught hold of
him by the wrist and dragged him ont,
He was unconscious, and we laid him on
the sidewalk. l was terribly excited.
McAnally went down then. lie had
only feached the fourth rung of the ladder
when he gasped and fell. Kane then met
the same fate. Sullivan had revived and
wanted Go go down again. l grabbed
him and had to knock him down 90 pre-
vent him from going into the sewer
again"
This finished the testimony, and the
verdict as told above was rendered.