The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-09
A RIVER OF QUICKSAND.
rs THERE A FLOW EASTWARD 90 FEET
MELLOW THE SCRFICEp

Twenty Feet Fellow Its stream Lies the
Body OF Peter Jordan, the Well Digger
who was Caught by n Cnve-in Above Him.
Unless tho Queens county Board OF SUPER
ylsors makes q special appropriation to dig
the body OF Peter Jordan out OF the we'll on
Henry Cox's farm In Great Neck. where he was
buried by q cavern on Tuesday OF last week.
the we'll will undoubtedly DO his grave.
Tho we'll was 10S feet deep. and Jordan was
working on n platform 35 feet from tho bot
tom. brickine II up when the quicksand fell.
1t illled the we'll UP to within about 30 feet
OF tho surface. Since then Coroner Schenck
has had relays OF ten men ut work under
Welldigger william cato trying to reach tho
buried man. Their efforts have been unsuc-
cessful Tho quicksand poured Ia almost as
fast us dug out
They sunk a shaft nine feet in diameter.
Yesterday morning. when it was flfty-ilve feet
deep and within twenty feet Of tho platform
on which Jordan was at work. they were
forced to suspend operations. Tho aulcksand
had begun to work again. and had pushed the
| lower part Of the shaft several feet out OF
| place. There were continual rnmblings and
| the sand could be heard as 1t shifted.
| Early in tho morning when the men first
started to work they sounded the sides OF the
shaft which are boarded UP to prevent another
cavo in. They found an immense cavity on
the north side OF the shaft. Where the sand
| had worked to was mystery Before the men
began operations in the shaft they poured
twenty-five tons OF sand taken out the we'll
ab ptS hs C savsy
| 1t Is said that thero lisa vein of quicksand
at this place which continually shifts east
Village Of Flushing. visited the scene yestor::
| day at the request Of Coroner Schcnck. and 1t
cided to POSTPONE further work for the present
MIR. Roullier is, OF tho OPINION there is sYme
cavity Tnhot the s ,ytn IN the rp
above, Or It may be; he says: That there Is
The assistance OF scientific engineers
R saHsro qSn59e$ds dollars r Ssss
wcdnes Ss'9 coranSr r schenct VIII ask the
Sn to conme tie work. c" tho
necessary funds being nnproprinted an OK
sary apparatus for resuininG, I'll" digging.
Jordan was ayouns colored man of marked
intelligence He was married several months
| ago. since his Imprisonment in the we'll y
hcartless rumor was started to the effect that
no was not down in tho well but had elopcd
runor It was was asserted that he took about 500
with him that morning when ne started for
This story W wa and Diver dsproys
Tie cave in occurred about II o'clo ok in tho
! morning. White and Houston were lowering
brick and sand down to Jordan when White
heard u peculiar sound. MS H. Jordan was cut
ting sand from the sides OF the well with his
trowel. Leaning over the opening White says
| he shouted down: .
Peter. what are you d ping; cutting the vol
| down on top Of yourselft'
No" was tho hollow answer TINT camo up
| from the darkness.
AS White turned to leave the opening there
was rush of something. below and then
| heavy banks Of sand broke from tho sides.
Tho windlassi the windlassl" was the
| smothcred shout White heard above tho thuds
OF falling sand. Both he and Houston manned
the w!ndlass and drew taut the rope which
was attached toIordans body. but could get
down into tho hole forty-iivo feet OF sand hid
| the unfortunate mans body.