The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1901-08-17
Burning Of Temporary Water
Works Crib Three Miles Out
From Cleveland, 0.
iTLEAST A DOZEN HUMAN LIVES LOST.
nv Almost Superhuman Efforts n
Number of WOrlSmen Who Were
Thought to be Doomed to Death
by suffOcatiOn in the Tunnel
Were Rescued Alive.

out in the lake, resulting in the death
of at least ten men, while two others
we're probably fatally injured. In ad-
dition to large number of workmen
who were in the crib, II others were
at work in the tunnel leading from
Il 200 feet below the bottom of the
lake. As air, which was pumped from
the crib to supply the men working
in the tunnel, was cut off as result
of its destruction, it was at first sup
posed that these men had all per-
ished.
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 stll in
the tunnel, but those rescued state
that one of these, Victor Kaufman, of
Canton, is dead.
The Known Dead.
Following is list Of the dead and
injured so far as now known:
John Martin, drowned.
Mike Snyder, drowned.
Arthur llasty, drowned.
Victor Kaufman, Canton, suflocat-
ed
Five men, names unknown, burned
TO death.
The Injured.
John Lee, broken back.
0. Braddock, frightfully burned,
Fire and horbor tugs with rescuing
parties on board reached the crib
soon after the flames broke out, but
when they arrived the structure was
. seething 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
were 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 crcled around the burn
ing crib, picking up men from the
water, and meantime playing heavy
streams upon the flames.
After an hours hard work, the
flames were diminished enough so
that the fremen could climb up the
eharred steps and fight the fire from
the interior. Then the horror Of the
calamity was first realized. Every.
thing was a total wreck. While the
fremen were pouring water on the
flames there was n roaring furnace
beneath, which could not be reached
But the hremen clung to their places
and fought every inch Of the way un'
I'll the fire was under control. After
two hours OF hard work five charred
human bodies were found burned be.
yond recognition. Two were in the
attitude Of prayer. They must have
been awakened by the fire, but could
not escape, They were caught like
rats In a trap. One body was burned
to almost nothing. All that could be
found OF II were skull and some
bones. The bodies of two other men
lay close to those that were on their
never knew what happened to them.
They must have been suiYocated be-
fore the flames reached them.
While this was going on, strenuous
Efforts were being put forth TO reach
the men imprisoned In the tunnel,
whose air supply had apparently been
shut ON entirely by the burning OF
The compressed mir machinery, Az
times II was thought that voices could
De heard down below, and the life-snv.
ers and the Aremen peered down
with ears intent, but the sounds
ceased again. At the mouth of the
smart II was like furnace and the
ronwork was redhot from the flames
The water that was thrown on II
surned Into steam NJ once,
Finally, after dclugc OF water had
peeh thrown on the smouldcrlng
smart entrance, n voice was heard
IRON the bottom calling for help.
For Gods sake throw down
rope; throw down rope" u man
called.
A line was quickly dropped down
Vie shaft and IA II frightened II shout
OF Joy went up from those about, for
u was quickly observed that the man
~ the bottom was able TO grasp IT,
lie yelled again 10 the rescucrs TO
pull him up. Slowly and carefully he
was raised. His pallld face, covered
with slime, his staring eyes and heav.
my chest, told OF the horror ho had
gone through in The hours he had
spent In the tunnel, lie was william
curry, OF Canton, As soon as he could
gasp Curry saidi "fhey are oil ut
we bottom Of the shaft, Hurry up
In quick succession seven Others
were brought up from the foul and
s'ltihg air of the tunnel All were In
most pitiable condition They re-
ported that two other men were ~
ing unconscious ut the bottom OF the
smart A workman volunteered To res
cue these men and he was quickly
severed into the shaft,
In u few moments the unconscious
men were brought up more dead than
alive.
one and possibly two men are sup
posed TO be lying dead In the tunnel
VOC far away from the shaft 10 DO
sssehsd.