The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-08-14
TEN DEAD.
Lives Lost by Water, Fire and
SuffOcatiOn.
Fire Breaks Out in WaterWOrks
Crib at Cleveland.
FORCED INTO WATER.
Workmen Driven Into the Lake
by the Flames.
Scene of Catastrophe Was Two
Miles From Shore.
SHUT IN BY FLAMES.
Men Working on Tunnel Under
meath the Lake.
One SmOthered to Death Before
Relief Came.
Norkmen Driven Into the Lake
by the Flames.
Scene of Catastrophe Was Two
Miles From Shore.
SHUT IN BY FLAMES.
Men Working on Tunnel Under
meath the Lake.
One SmOthered to Death Before
Relief Came.


Cleveland. o, Aug. 14-Fire early to-
day destroyed temporary waterworks
crib two miles out in the lake, result
ing in the death of at least ten men,
while two others probably We're fatally
injured. In addition to a large num-
ber OF workmen who We're in the crib,
eleven others were at work in the tun-
mel leading from it 200 below 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 a result OF its destruction, it was
at first supposed that these men had
all perished.
subsequently,, however. nine of the
men in the tunnel were rescued after
heroic work upon the part Of their
fellow workmen- 1t is said that two
men are stin in the tunnel. but those
rescued state that one Of them, Victor
Kaufman, of Cantor. s dead.
Following IS list of dead and in
5ured. SO far as now known.
JOHN MARTIN. drowned
MIKE SNYDER, drowned
ARTHUR HARTY. drowned.
VICTOR KAUFMAN, of Canton,
suffocated-
Five men. names unknown, burned
to death.
Injured:
John Lee. broken back
Q. Braddock. frigntfully burned.
Fire and harbor tugs with rescuing
parties on board reached the crib soon
after the fire broke out. but when they
arrived the structure was a mass OF
flames and all hope of saving it was
abandoned.
Men stark naked could be distin-
guished swimming and floating in the
water shouting for help Others We're
clinging to ropes which they had tied
to the rafters. but the flames were
burning the ropes away and one by
one the men were falling into the lake.
The tugs circled around the burning
crib picking UP men from the water
and meantime playing heavy stream
upon the flames
After an hours hard work the flames
were diminished enough SO that the
nremen could climb up the charred
steps and fight the fire from the in
terror Then the horror of the calamity
was frst realized Everything was a
total wreck While the firemen We're
pouring water on the flames there was
q roaring furnace beneath which could
not be reached. But the flremen clung
to their places and fought every inch
Of the way until the fire was under
control. After two hours Of hard work
five charred human bodies We're found
burned beyond recognition. Two were
in the attitude Of prayer. They must
have. been awakened by the fire but
could not escape. They We're caught
like rats in a trap. One body was
burned to almost nothing All that
could be found Of it was a skull and
some bones. The bodies of two other
man lay close to those that were on
their knees, and it looked as though
they never knew what happened to
them. They must have suffocated be-
fore the fam es reached them
As soon as the five bodies We're
found the tug Kennedy returned to the
harbor at once and notified the coroner
of the discovery. While this was go
ing on strenuous efforts were being put
forth TO reach the men Imprisoned in
the tunnel whose air supply had ap-
parently been shut off entirely by the
burning OF the compressed air ma
chinery- At times it was thought that
voices could be heard down below. and
the life savers and the firemen peered
down with ears intent. but the sounds
ceased again. At the mouth of the
smart II was like furnace. and the
1ronwork was red hot from the flames.
TIE water that was thrown on it
turned into steam at once.
Finally after deluge of water had
been thrown on the smouldering shaft
entrance. a voice was heard from the
Bottom calling for help.
WORK OF RESCUE
For Gods sake throw down a roDef
4nFuW down q rope. a. man called A
line was quickly dropped down rba
shaft and as It tightened a shout 81
JOY went up from those about for ii
was quickly observed that the man a+
the bottom was able to grasp if
He yelled again to the rescuers IN
pun him up. Slowly and carefully ~
was raised. His pallid face covered
with slime his staring eyes and baav-
ing chest told Of tire horror h haa
gone through in the hours he had spenr
in the tunnel He was William Curry
OF Canton.
As soon as he could gasp. Curry said .
Trey are all at the bottom Of the
shaft: hurry up"
In quick succession seven others
We're brought up from the fonl ana
stl1ing air of the tunnel All v-sre
IN a most pitiable condition. They re-
ported THAT two other men We're ixiner
unconscious at the bottom of the shaft
workman volunteered to resc9,e
these men. and ne was quickly lowered
into the shaft In a few moments tbe
unconscious men We're brought nm
more dead than alive
One and possibly two men are s,,D-
posed to be lying dead in the tunnel teo
Tar away from the shaft to be reached
The tugs that hurried out 10 fbe
scene az soon as the fire was discoy-
cred succeeded in rescuing no less tf,s,,
= men who were found tlinefnr IN