The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1901-08-15
DOZEN WORKMEN LOSE rHeln
LIVES IN A FIRE AT
CLEVELAND.
WATERW0RKS CRIB ABLAZE
Was Located Two Miles Out in the
Lake and Its Occupants Had No
Means Of Escape When the Flames
Were Oiscovered-Tugs and Lifesav.
ing Vessels Rescue a Score Of Men
Who Had Jumped Into the Water.

WV VIC0 S0fURC0 tubO IVC VdlSTs
Cleveland, Aug. l5.-Fire during the
:'orning destroyed temporary water
works CRIB, two miles out in the lake,
resulting in the death OF 10 men. while
two others probably were fatally in
jured. In addition to a large number
VI workmen who We're in the crib II
others were at work in the tunnel
leading thence, 200 feet from the bot
tom Of the lake. AS air which was
pumped from the crib TO supply the
men working in the tunnel. was cut
of as result of its destruction. it was
at first supposed that these men had
all perished Subsequently,. however
nine OF the men in the tunnel We're r :.
cued after heroic work upon the part
Of their fellow w6rkmen.
At this writing it is said that two
men are still in the tunnel. but those
rescued stat, that one Of these. Victor
kaufman OF Canton. Is dead
Fire and harbor tugs with rescuinc
parties on board reached the crib soon
after the flames broke out. but when
they arrived the structure was seeth.
ing mass OF flames and all hope CT say
ing ]; was abandoned.
Men could be distinguished swim
ming and floating in the water shout
ing for help. Others were clinging &
ropes which they had hitched or 'i"d
10 the rafters. but the flames Were
burning the ropes away. while 80
men were stark naked. and one by ort
they were falling into the lake.
The tugs circled around the burning
crib picking up men from II" water
hnd meantime playing heavy strear.
| upon the flames.
Horror Of Calamity Realized.
After an hours hard work tn
flames were diminished enough $
.hat the iiremen could climb up I'll
| charred steps and fight the fire from
The interior Then the horror OF ~
| calamity was first realized. Every
thing was a total wreck. While tn
fremen We're pouring water on n
flames there was roaring furnace be
| meath which could not be reached
| But the firemen. clung 10 their place
| and fought every inch Of the way unit
The fire was under control After tW
hours hard work iive charred huma
bodies were found burned beyond re-
ognitlon. Two Were in the attitude 4
PRAYER. They must have been aWai
| cued hy the fire but could not 6 eap.
The bodies OF two other men lay clos
70 those thar were on their knees an
II looked rs though they never kne'
what happened 10 them They mus
have been snffocated before the ;iame
reached them.
As soon as the five bodies Were 81
| covered the tug Kennedy returned
Tho harhOr al once and notlhed IN
coroner Of the discovery. While IN
wa going On ways and means wer
hcing devised TO reach the men 1T
nrjsored in the tunnel. whose air SUI
ply had apparently been shut on el
,iroll by the burning of the compress
ca air machinery Al times II wa
thought tha. voices could be near
down below. and the lfesavers an
mo frcmen pecrcd down with ears j.
.cnt hus the sounds ceased again. J
tine mouth Of the shaft i was like
furnace and the iron work was r.
hot from the flames and the Wat'
thrown on il III ned into steam
once.
More Dead Than Alive.