The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-05-08
CAUGHT UNDER ROCK
NINE MEN KILLED AND FIVE IN
JURED.
WORKING IN A TUNNEL
WHEN A GREAT MASS PLUNGED
UPON THEM.

DOubIe-Tracl<ing Gang Was EN-
pIOyed in a Norfolk and Western
Tunnel When the Accident Oc-
curred-Stratum of Rock Became
Detached and TumbIed Down.
Bodies of Those Caught Beneath
1t Have Not Yet Been Recovered
Will he Slow Work.
Roanoke, Va, May "details
reached here this afternoon of a fearful
catastrophe which occurred late yes
terday evening in the east end of The
West End tunnel, known as Tunnel No.
2. Eggleston Springs, Giles county on
the Norfolk and Western Railway, in
which nine men were killed and five
injured, three of them fatally, while
two others were almost miraculously
saved.
Railroad contractors were engaged in
double-tracking the two tunnels at the
point named, and it was due to their
operations that the accident happened.
1t seems that when the tunneling force
had removed the earth and stone for
the tracks at the point where the ca
lamity occurred, huge slide of solid
stone gave way on the mountain side
and came down at an angle of about
As degrees, striking the gang fairly and
literally crushing the life out of nine
men. This stratum of solid rock was
found, on examination, to be connected
only by clay seams, and when the
foundation was removed the stratum,
some fifty feet long, came with a ire
mendous force and without warning,
catching the men in the death trap
One Man Was Grazed.
Only one man was in a niche of the
tunnelway, and was only grazed on
the face and head, and escaped with
slight injuries. He was removed with
out great difficulty. A second man, who
stood on the outer edge of the slide,
was only slightly hurt, but three 9TH
ers were more unfortunate and were
so badly injured that it is feared they
will die. The bodies of the other nine
men, some of whom are white, are still
under the mountain slide.
A wrecking car and derrick was
taken out from RadfOrd, but so far
have been of no avail. There is no
likelihood that the bodies can be re-
covered soon, as the rock will have to
be dynamited and removed bit by bit.
This is considered a most dangerous
proposition, as the length of the STRAIT
UNI cannot be ascertained, and there is
imminent danger of a second crash
as soon as the base is removed and
consequent loss of other lives.
Traffic Not Long Delayed.
So far it has been impossible to Sc
cure the names of the unfortunate vic
Tins. They are only known to the con-
tractors, and the latter can only judge
by the missing members of the force.
One thing that is known is that it was
mixed gang, composed both of white
and colored laborers.
The accident did not long materially
delay traffic on the main line. The
trains were delayed, however. by an
other slide in Big Tunnel, at Mont
gomery, twenty miles east of Eggles-
tons, and trains were held at this slide
over four hours.
The latest advices from an official
source, so far as the Norfolk and West
ern Railroad is concerned, is to the
effect that only seven men were killed
outright, but a prominent contractor
coming to Roanoke from the scene,
gave the facts substantially as related
above.
Later Reports Say six.
A special tonight to the Times from
Eggleston says six men were killed and
three others injured in the tunnel dis
aster. Three bodies have been recov-
cred, and it is believed the others will
begotten out before morning. A wreck
ing car is at work clearing away the
debris. The entrance to the tunnel is
now clear and safe. and no further
trouble is anticipated. The killed and
injured are all colored men. The names
of the victims are still unobtainable.