Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-08-16
FIRE AND WATER
The Cause Of at Least Nine
Deaths at Cleveland.
Fire Destroys Crib at Water Works.
Some Burned, Some Drowned.
Daring Rescue Of Survivors, Three or -Four
/ Still Imprisoned.


were burned to death. four were
drowned. thrce and possibly four were
suffocatcd and several injured as the
result of fire which destroyed tenn
porary water works crib, two miles OH
the Cleveland harbor, early today
rwcnty-six men when the names
broke out took refuge on floating pieces
Of wrcckaGc. Four Of them lost thcir
hold and sank. The tug J. f. SprankIe
raced to the scene from the harbor
She picked up Is of the survivors
Van Dcusen and three OF his men
We're hanging In the water from "A =
inch line suspended from the crib. Just
rs the line was burning away above
the mems hands a yawl boat from the
barge Wilhelm manned by TWO men,
dashed into the veil of heat and smoke
that envclcpcd the crib and rescued
the four men on the rope at the risk Of
the bOatmens lives.
The crib is total loss. II was
a frame building 200 by 30 feet. the
sides shea.hed with iron. IL contained
vaIuabl machinery. The crib and ma
chinery was the property Of Smaller 4
Echringiau contractors. Their loss will
exceed 500 600.
Fire and harbor tugs reached the
crib soon after the flames broke out
hut the structure was a mass Of flames
and beyond saving.
Men could be distinguished swim
ming and floating in the water. shout
ing for help. Others were "linging to
ropes which they had pitched To raftcrs
but the fam were burning the ropes
away. while the men were stark naked
and ore by one they were falling Into
the lake. The tugs circled around the
burning crib. picking W men from the
water and meantime playing heavy
heavy fire,nIs upon the flsmes.
After an hours hard work the ia mes
We're diminished enough 50 that the
III cmcn could climb UP the charred
steps and fight the fire from the in
terror Then the horror Of the calamity
IVES Grsi realized. Everything WAS 4
total wreck
While the Hremcn were pouring wa
ter on the flames there was a roar ring
furnace beneath which could not he
reached. But the firemen chung to their
places and fought every inch of the
way until the fire was under control
-tEtt kNt 'tfIi< ~ tlsfu N'ik I'VE
charred human bodies were found
burned beyond recognition. Two were
in the attitude Of prayer. One body
was burned TO almost nothing. All that
could he found of il was skull and
some bones
Efforts were then made to reach the
men imprisoned in the tunnel whose air
supply had apparently been shut off
entirely by the breaking Of the com
pressed air machinery
After a dcluce Of water had been
thrown on the smnuldering shaft fur
mace voice was heard from the bot
tom calling for help. 4 line was quick
" dropped down the shaft and the man
At the bottom was pulled To the sur
face. He was William Curry Of Canton
As soon as he could speak Curry
said:
They are all a; the bottom Of tho
shaft Hurry up
In quick succession seven other; wer.
brought IN. All were in most pitiahl,
condition. They reror; that two other
men were lying unconscious at the ho,
tom of the shaft. \ workman volunteer
cd 10 rescue them. lie was quickly low
''N' '''' ~ ''hH't fiib III Al lew mo-
mcnts the unconscious men were hrourh,
UP.
ON" ard possibly two men are supposed
I" lie lying dead in the tunnel. too fat
away from the shaft to be reached
The tugs that hurried out to tn. seen.
as soon as the fire Wa discovered sue
cccded in rescuinE - men who were
found ciinginE to wvcckage and ropes TIED
10 the burning structure
The fire was due to an overhcated boil
er smoke stack. The boiler exploded soon
after the flames broke out The tunnel
which has been under course of construc-
ton for several years past. has been the
caiSe all told Of the loss cf more than =,
lives.
Mayor johnson declared that the case
would receive the closest investigation.
Late this afternoon Plurmer Jones of
Warren. ohio. an cmployc of the tunnel
contractors and one OF party who de-
seconded into the shaft to look for N.
missing men. was overcome hy gas and
exrired within few minutes.
David Nelly. another member or tho
reacuins party. Is in q precarious condi
ton