Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-04-27
FOURTEEN WoaKMEN DROWNED.


MILWAUKEE, April 21.-Fourteen work
men lost their lives yesterday IN tho fierce
storm which has been lashng Lake Auch-
gan. They were employed IN the c1nstruc-
ton of the new water works intake tuuuel,
being engaged in brickiug up shaft ia the
cut 5000 feet from the shore The hurricane
swept away tn9 frail structure which ha
been built upon the top Of the cut to shelter
tho men Gld dashed them into Che seothing
lake.
Through the heroic efforts or the lifs-aav-
ing crew James Miller Wes 5ved. lie ia
the only man who escapcl Win his lie.
He is lying at the Emergency hospital tio
weak TO tell his awful story. The 81 Tx was
in charge o: Shailer & scAniglon, Chicago
contractors, whose loss will bs about $40, @
000 Work upon the tunnel will be delayed
for several months.S
A terrible sea has been raging since
Thursday morning. The swell increased,
and the sea soon became so furious that the
shed built on the crib began to tremble.
Finally the timbsrs supporting tue house
gave away and the plgEks began TO wash
ashore. At O'Clock yesterday morning the
last, rafter of the shed fell from the top OF the
Grip leaving the men at ths mercy Of the
waves.
saving crew arrived at tho waterworks
The sea was running h;1h. Waves is and
20 feet were washing over the piers and the
crib. lie said 1t WAS impossible 20 reach
the orb with his lifsbos.. n tug could
DO obtainsd there migat be soma hope Of
landing. The tug Starke YVES secured and
the dangerous trip begun. Ths tug cleared
the harbor, but Wa obliged TO turn back,
as she could not be controlled in tho raging
sea.
Whom the news that the crib could not be
reached was announced at the watorworks
great excitement prevailed. Relatives Of
the missing man volunteered to ajtompt the
trip If boat could bs occurred. There was
no boat to be had, however. An attempt
10 reach tho crib in small boa would have
resulted in sure death for its occupants
At o'clOok about 600 people had assem-
bled on the shore. The scenes were the
most pathetic witnessed In this city since
the Newhall House fire Wives and chill
dren of the victims patrolled tua shore for
the bodies of their loved oues No bodies
wore found, however. At $3.50 the beach
was crowded with weeping women. Some
were wives, others sisters. Children were
| moaning for their fathers.
At ~ o'clock every hope for the safety
of the men had VANISHED. when suddenly {
fgure was seen creeping out OF the shaft
Then came another. In fow moments six
men wsro on the crib, ciugiug to the On CINE,
which was still intact. With the aid OF a
powerful field gIas the movements OF tho
men were plainly discerned. They must have
suffered fearfully from the cold AZ tueir
act ons sisnihed.
They huddled together closely aud tried
har tn ba, 4
on the crib about - minutes when, ore by
ono, thsy disappeared. Tbsr disappear
auca did not worry the spectators, VINO now
thought that the men were all safe. 1t WAS
thought that the men on the crib had gone
back into the shaft, where IL was supposed
their comrades were in safe refuge
The sea became caimer, and Capt, Peter
son OF the litesaviug station notifld tho
| officers at the pumping station that another
attempt to reach the crih would he made
At II o'clock the tug Welcome, towing u
crew in litsbost, steamed out of the har-
Dor and headed to the northward. At1l:45
tho crib was reached and Inger Olssu, ono
OF the surfmen, landed.
All eyes wers now turned seward Olsen
worked about for Is minutes. ard then
dovcd into this water. Everybody on
shore knew what the mans action meant.
There was no longer any doubt tia. the
mon were lost, and that some OF them had
died while the helpless spectators on shore
were looking on. Whsu Olsen was drawn
back TO the boat it was seen that the help
less form OF man was strapped to his
back. 1t was James Miller the only sur
vivor, who was half dead from cold and ex
posure. The tug and tho lifsboat returned
to the harbor with difficulty, and Miller was
taken to the hospital.