The Penn's Grove record., 1901-08-16
MEN IN DEATH TRAP
kames Destroy temporary Water
Works Near Cleveland, Ohio.


Cleveland. Ohio.-Twelve men los
their lives In the destruction by Are OF
the water works crib in Lake Erie
three miles from shore. They were
caught as If in a burning ship. Tween.
ty-three men were employed at the
crib, which is at the outer end Of the
water works tunnel, the gang being
composed of three shifts of eleven
men. The men of two shifts were
sleeping upon the roof, while those of
the third We're working in the tunnel
1S5 feet beneath the bottom of the
lake.
1t was a little before 8 a., N. when
the workmen sleeping on the roof were
awakened by flames burning through
the roof. The great stack through
which the smoke poured from the
boilers had become red-hot and set
the roof ahame. The men on the roof
pulled the fire whistle as a signal to
the shore Of their danger and hurried
down toward their comrades. This
whistle, heard by the tug J. Il. Spran-
kle, was the means of saving twenty
two lives.
The mar from the roof found the in
terror of the crib full of smoke and
flames. The building was a wooden
Shell. sheathed with iron. The men
became panic-stricken and jumped into
the water. preferring to drown than to
be burned to death. Fortunately one
or two preserved their presence of
mind II hurled several loose boards
into the lake. To these many of tho
men chung until rescued by the tug
men. Nine, however, persisted before
aid arrived, five burning to death and
four drowning.
Meantime the men In the tunnel
were working, unconscious that any
thing was wrong above. Finally the
air became foul and they endeayored
to make their way to the shaft. Sew
eral times they tried, being driven
back each time by the smoke. Aid
was coming, however. A rescue party
had been formed. d. G. Van Duzen
was the first to be lowered down the
shaft. In answer to his calls he re-
ceived a faint "hello" from way off in
the distance. The gas was too sitting
and he vas forced to give the signal
to be drawn up.
A few minutes later he tried again,
his calls this time being answered by
voices much nearer. Before they
reached him he was overcome by the
gas and was drawn up unconscious.
August Mort, one of those rescued
from drowning, a veritable Hercules,
was the next volunteer. With n stor-
age battery slung on his back to give
a light in the tunnel he descended and
soon guided the imprisoned men to
safety, carrying Charles Smith, who
was supposed to be dead, in his arms.
An hours work, however, restored
Smith TO consciousness. Two men,
Victor Kaufman and Adams Kest,
were left in the tunnel. Both were
known to have persisted.
A gang from crib No. 8 made up of
Edward Johnson, c. Burkhardt, Plum
mer Jones and David Kelly went down
into the tunnel at 3 p. m. johnson and
Kelly were pulled out half conscious a
few minutes later, and said Burkhardt
and IN were overcome. James
Williams went down for the two miss
ing He got Buckhardt out,
but Jones was dead. Overcome by
the gas he fell into the water at the
bottom of the tunnel and was drowned.
Williams himself remained so long
that a party went down for him.
lones's body was recovered. The dead
are: P. Schmidt. John Martin, Peter
Hastings, Mike Llnder, drowned; Vic
tor Kaufman and Adams Kest, suffo-
Gated In tunnel; five men burned to
Seathi- Plummer Jones, rescuer,
drowned.