The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-07-14
WENT DOWN A MANHOLE
In the Reducing Station and Came Very
Near Not Coming Up.
LEWIS WORKED WITH A WILL
And Finally Got the Man Beyond Danger,
hut Was Himself in Bad shape
From Inhaling the Gas
Difference of Opinion as
to the Leakage.

Death nearly resulted Monday after
noon about $3.50 o'clock from accumu-
lating gas at the reducing station at
the corner Of South Cherry street and
East South street, on the lines OF the
natural gas company. During the af-
ternoon Manager E. w. Lewis OF the
East Ohio Gas Company in company
with James Danihy, an employe, visit
ed the various reducing stations in the
city for examination. When they ap-
preached the one on South Cherry
street, Danihy removed two of the up
per manhole plates, but it is assumed
that he entered the place too soon, for
as he reached the bottom he was quick
ly overcome with gas. Manager
Lewis secured his horse to post and
walked over to the station. Looking
into the manholes he saw Danihy lying
unconscious at the bottom with
his tongue protruding and exhibiting
other signs of suffocation by gas. Lewis
called to a man across the road to come
and assist him in removing the man
from the bottom OF the station, but the
man paid no attention to his call.
Other men who came running up to the
place were also appealed to, but they
refused positively to enter the holes or
assist in rescuing Danihy. Every mo.
ment the chances of Danihy's death
were increasing and something had to
be done and that very quickly. Mana
ger Lewis then bravely entered the
hole himself and tugged the man par
italy from under some pipes and nearer
the end of the station in which was the
man-hole. He then ascended to the
outer air, took few full breaths, and
again re-entered the bottom of the sta
ton. Successfully he entered until he
had the limp body close enough to the
top so that the outsiders could assist in
pulling it out. Danihy was entirely un-
conscious for short time and Lewis
also suffered severely from the effects
OF the accumulated gas. DR.. Schilling
was summoned, but in the meantime
water had been secured and this was
poured over the face OF the unconscious
man which soon resulted in his return
| to consciousness, although he grew
deathly sick afterward from the inhal-
alton of the gas. Lewis was given an
almost similar treatment and
| he also recovered, although
when seen Tuesday morning he still
suffered somewhat from the effects OF
| the gas, but Danihy has altogether re-
covered and is at work as usual. The
bravery OF Manager Lewis in rescuing
his employe was commended on all
sides.
Manager Lewis said regarding the
escaping OF the gas: "The accumula-
tion possibly resulted from leakage
in the pipes of the artificial gas COM
pany somewhere in the south end of the
city, as our pipes are fitted thoroughly
air-tight and such leakages cannot oc-
cur anywhere. There may be a
leak somewhere along the
artificial lines that the com.
pany is unaware OF, as another reduc.
ing station in the south or west end
had accumulated gas in it sometime
ago and one of our men nearly suffo.
Gated"
Manager Wells, of the Canton Gas
Light ank Coke company, was seen
He said: 81 am quite sure that nc
such leakage occurs along our lines
The percentage of escape of our gas /;
smaller this year than last by great
deal and should that have occurred We
certainly would have been made aware
Of the same through our regulator
Our pipes are in first-class condition al
over the city"