The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-25

Narrow Escape of an Engineer
From Suffoeation.
FOUL AIR MADE HIM sENsELEss.
William Rebky Has . Terrible kxpe.
rfeRee, hut His wife Brfngs Help
and He Aecovera

block on Second street. had q narrow
escape yesterday from losing his life by
suEocation in the elevator pressure tank
The time that elapsed before be was res
cued from the mauhole is estimated At
forty-five minutes and in the meantime be
was kept alive by fresh air being forced
into the tank by rude appliances.
Rohky had been thinking for several
days Of cleaning out the tank. which IS in
the form of cylinder. about ten feet high,
with man-hosc and water pipe leading IN
81 the bottom. and as the elevator was not
running yesterday concluded to do the
work. He knew there was some danger of
being overcome by foul air and in order
that he might have help 1t hand If he got
into trouble had his wife accompany him
20 the engine-room. First he let the
water out of the tank and then opened
the manhole. 1t is an oval opening. about
sixteen inches across lateraliy and twelve
perpendicuIariy. Robky is a good-sised
man. with broad shoulders and heavy
limbs, so there was not much space 10
spare when he crawled in aud commenced
work on job that is not pleasant under
any circumstances. Twice he went in and
twice he came out, each time laughing
with his wife about his being cooped up
in such narrow quarters.
The third time he stood up and ap-
parently got above what is termed the air
tight line. He had been talking to his
wife. but suddenly found himself losing
consciousness. One cry for help, but that
so weak that it did not reach outside the
steel walls, fell from his lips, and then
inconsistencies came over him. Mrs.
Robky thought something was wrong and
called. She received no answer. She reached
into the black manhole and could feel
her husband standing apparently upright
but firm as q rock. Wild with fear she ran
TO f. W. Ways saloon above and gave the
alarm. Down to the engine room In the
basement went Elmer Mayberry, c. ID.
Beebe and A. E. Graham IS fast as their
legs could carry them. Mrs. Rohky told
them as best she could between her sobs
and cries what had happened and where
her husband was. The efforts to get
Rocky out of his serious predicament were
not half hearted. but in some lnexplicable
manner he was held fast When at last
he was Or ought down to the bottom of the
tank, he fell with his head away from the
hole.
How I o get air to him was the problem
not uppermost in the minds of the res
cuers. and that no mistake might be m ade
with the machinery and thus turn loose the
water. which would drown him like
rat In trap, messengers were
sent TO the Seattle Steam Heat and Power
Company for assistance. The messenger
got mixed up and said there was q man in
the boiler. Ii made no difference, how
ever, as far as Chief Engineer Z. III. Lee
was concerned. He grabbed the tools he
thought necessary and, calling to his
brother, L. +. Lee. to follow, they made
for the Butler block with such rapid
strides that people on the street wondered
what was the matter. As soon as they
reached the engine room the true state of
affairs became apparent and they went 10
work with viii. T. +. Lee attacked the
couplings that, once opened. would let air
into the tank through the pipes usually
used for water and about this time Beebe
came running in with an improvised air
pump. Fresh air was thus sent into the
tank in small quantities. although il was as
yet speculation concerning what good it
would do.
The work went on steadily. but above
the voices of men came the cries Of the
poor woman. who thought her husband
was dead. Officer Haddeen tried to CON-
fort her and keep her back from the men
AT the opening to the tank. Detective
r ,berts also put in words of assurance.
but il was no use; che would continually
seek the place of danger.
At last an old fashioned air bellows was
brought in and with this more air was sent
in TO the unconscious man. A moment
later Lee had made an opening to the pipe
and thus good current of air was esiab-
lished. I. III. Lee then braved the man
hole and brought Robky's feet to the en-
| trance. There was another hitch in the
proceedings and il was found necessary TO
pull off his overalls and trousers before his
body could be dragged out into the light.
He came out dead TO the world, but in a
| moment DR.. ]. 7. Sweeney and DR.. H. D.
Kline were working over him. Soon the
word was passed from mouth to mouth
| that he still lived. The crowd was pushed
| back and as fresh air reached him he
| gained strength rapidly. In ten minutes
! he was able 10 call for water aud, when il
was given him, 10 drink eagerly.
From that time on he became himself
| rapidly and talked freely 10 his wife about
| the narrow escape he had Just had from
| death. lie said he did not suffer prior to
| becoming unconscious. but lost strength
| So RAPIDLY that he could do nothing TO
| OF the physicians he went home. where he
/ could be quiet. and thus prevent any re-
| action.