The herald., 1895-09-17
THEY WATCHED HIN DROWN
Thos. Reynolds Is Slowly Sub
merged in Water
FROM A BROKEN SEWER
Had Been Working in a Trench That
Caved In
He Was Pinned by The Fallen Earth and
Then the Sewer Burst and Willing
lien Were Helpless

death under distressing circumstances
yesterday afternoon shortly after
O'Clock. He was caught by falling earth
in deep sewer hole and pinned down
while the, water fIom bursteu sewer con-
duit rushed in and drowned him in the
sight of crowds OF willing yet helpless
hands.
Every attempt was made to save him,
and from the statements of those about
the place he was to blame in the matter.
The body was entirely covered by
the foul waters from the sewer, and it
was not recovered until six hours after
the water first ran into the hole.
The fatality occurred OH Los Angeles
street, near Boyd, where the street is be-
ing excavated for tue new line OF sewer.
Reynolds was down in 1ne of the section
holes, which is about fourteen feet. try
ing to tunnel to the one in front, dis
tance of four feet. Just over him ran the
old sewer line that crosses the street to
go over to San Pedro. This sewer was
formerly zanja built OF brick and one
foot high and about twenty-five inches in
width, but which some time ago had been
converted to its present use.
Suddenly q mass of earth fell in on
Reynolds and bnricd him above the
knees. lie was securely pinned and i'm
mediately called for assistance. AS soon
as he saw the trouble, the foreman, A.
G. Miller. ordered the men to get rope
and put it around the waist of Reynolds
AMI pull him out that way. 10 this
Reynolds entered q most vigorous protest
and said that his shovel had fallen across
his feet and would keep them from pull
ing him ont, and besides he thought that
his leg had been broken. He did not
realize the danger apparently and said
that it would be ali right in few min
utes, as he could dig loose. The foreman
pes7ssted in putting tho rope about Rev
nolds, which was done against his will.
Seven men then took hold and started to
draw him from the place, but the rope
parted three times. In short time more
earth caved in and buried Reynolds to
the waist. Men got down into the hole
to try to dig him out, but the sewer
broke loose entirely and the entire con-
tents were turned into this new outlet.
The helpers dug as long as they could,
but the water came in and filled the hole
too fast, and they were com mpelled to make
a retreat and abandon Reynolds TO MS
horrible fate.
When the doomed man saw that he was
lost, his cries and shrieks for ald were
heartrending. The contents of the sewer
poured in. the stencil arising therefrom
being terrible. In few moments the
water was above Reynolds waist, and
gradually rose until it reached his shoul-
1ers. All the time the man was calling
to be helped from the place. while bove
him, watching the fatal rise of the water
stood scores of men willing and anxious
10 aid him-men who would have Iisked
their lives had there been but the most
remote possibility of saving his llfe-but
oil helpless alike.
AT last the water reached his mouth,
and within few moments Reynolds had
been stranzled to death. The water still
rose and finally covered the head of the
unfortunate man.
Engine No. 3 was summoned and set at
work pumping the dark, dirty stuff from
the hole in order 10 recover the body of
Reynolds. 1t proved graceless task and
for several hours did the machine throw
out the water only to have the hole refill,
as the the volume from the sewer was
equal to the amount that the steam pump
could throw out. If not even greater. FL
nally the men went to the manhole at the
corner of Third and Los Angeles streets
and threw in quantity of rocks ana dirt
for the purpose of stopping the flow in
the sewer and cause the water to back up
for a short time, in order to allow the en-
gine to get the fatal hole empty. This
worked well for q while. but the water
broke through and fillsd the hole once
more. Again was it tried and this time it
was successful, for shortly after the body
of Reynolds appeared. 1t was about 9:07
were lifted from the hole. There were
about 500 people gathered, and q cheer
was given when the body was recovered.
The caving of the earth was due to the
fact that seepage from the sewer at that
point had weakened the earth above
where Reynolds worked, and started the
slump; and as the surrounding dirt gave
way there was nothing left to support the
walls OF the conduit, which was the Oldest
in the city, and the contents broke
through the walls and tilled the hole.
Reynolds was SAID to be n sin
gle man and had no family resid-
ing here, but 1t was rumored that
he had a wife in Santa Cruz. lie had
been employed BY MIR. Darcy off and on
for the past seven months and was a,
ways found to be q reliable and steady
man.
Mr.. Darcy said that they knew of the
weak condition of the old sewer. and it
had been ordered to run another conduit
rom above the hole where Reynolds went
to his death, and cross the street.
There were about half q dozen holes in
the immediate vicinity of tie one where
the sewer ran in, and il is either mar
vel of good fortune or special dispensa-
ton OF providence that many people
were not severely injured by stepping
into some of the falls. AS it was, though,
two did fall in and received slight in
sries. One was Police Sergeant Gus
Smith. He tumbed down the hole ad-
joining where the accident occurred. 1t
was very dark there, and in crossing the
street he walked into trench. lie says
he strr ok platform and observed, well,
this is no, so deep after ALL. but kept
on gonP and did not stop until he lit on
the bottom, in several feet of the contents
OF the broken sewer. His head was
slightly cut OF the left side. After the
crowd tished him out he lost no tine in
going to the police station, where he
patched up his wound. washed himself
and got some dry clothes.
W. McElroy. newspaper ;Ian of this
city, was in the immediate neigh borhood
OF the accident recorded above, and in
wandering around fell into the trench
After he was pulled out he turned to
friend and said. II leava you: go to a
place of safety. and straightway dropped
again ten feet. The second fali bru 'sed
Nc Elroy to the extent that ne was taken
to the receiving hospital, where DR.. Bry.
ant took u stitch or Two and then sent
him on his way rejoicing.
Ia 4t,,