New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-13
DIVERS AWFUL FATE.
HELD BY LE4DEN WEIGHT
He LiUeS Hours, While Men Work
an Tain to Free Him.


Boonton. y. J.. April 12-winiam Hoar a
diver from New-York was caught In the water
in the Jersey city reservoir here yesterday af-
ternoon. and this afternoon ne was given up
for dead by other divers who had come to aid in
getting the imprisoned man free. The rescuers
worked until under the influence Of the high
wind. the on the lack caused the raft to
pitch TO such extent that It Impossible
longer to supply the men below with air on
the bare possibility that Hoar is still alive air
is being sent down to him by relays OF men
working at the air pump. which has been
moved from The raft 10 the stone dam. Dr. J.
/. Taylor, who had been on the scene since last
night. said this afternoon there was little chance
that Hoa~ was alive.
Hoar lived at Third-ave. and One-hundred-
and-sixth-st., New-York. He was sent here on
Monday by the J. 5. Bundick Submarine Com
pany. to close an intake pipe in the lake. The
reservoir is a new one. 1t has neen under con-
struction for several years and was recently
sufficiently completed TO allow a portion Of the
bed 10 be flooded The dam is to rise cousidera-
bly, higher than it is. and thus the flooded area
viii be later increased. \ week ago # was
found that one OF the controlling gates outside
OF the dam had become derangeG. and could
not be closed. IL became necessary to shut off
the water from the pipe to repair the gate The
intake pipes are six feet in diameter, and extend
some little distance out into the lake beyond the
crown Of the dam. owing to the sloping char
aoter OF the inside Of the retaining wall
To close the pipe a ball OF wood and lead was
lowered IN front of the intake pipe which #
was desired TO close The ball was nine feet
in diameter and the suction should have carried
Il against the opening and closed the intake
II is believed that the bali was not large enough
for the water continued TO flow through the
intake pipe in almost great volume as before
It became needful TO employ diver and Hoar
was sent out owing to the position OF the
intake mouth he had TO work from raft. He
went down yesterday and examined the sltua-
ton on being hauled up ne reported that the
ban did not fit. and that there were spaces on
each side of the ball through which the water
was pouring into the pipe lie said the sue
lion close TO the pipe great that the
work was hazardous He had to work in a lit
tie more than seventy feet Of water
Under Hoar's directions four plugs were made.
They were long bags of sand. two to be placed
on each side OF the ball. These Hoar thought
would stop the suction and allow him TO make
full examination. Two bags were lowered 10
the left side Of the ball. Hoar went down and
put them in position. He then returned to the
surface, and after rest returned 10 close the
right hand opening with the bags sent down.
He used these bags all right and must have
passed around the bah to see how the iefthand
side was holding. for he lies that side OF
the ball. What occurred cannot be told except
by deduction. From what the wouldbe rescu-
ers found Hoar must have sought to make a
further adjustment OF the bags of sand the
left side and they slipped and were drawn into
the intake. Hoar was probably taken off his
feet by the sudden rush of water. which, added
to The weight Of the bags the far side. caused
the ball to shift toward Hoar.
HOW BODY is HELD
The ball caught Hoar's left leg between Itself
and the fiange Of the intake pipe, and held him
fast. The leg must have been crushed and
probably almost cut off. had IT not been in
cased in the heavy diving suit The agony from
the injury must have added greatly to the hor-
ror Of his situation in the twenty-four hours
that followed.
Nothing was known OF the happenings below
by those the surface until the assistants. be-
coming alarmed al Hoar's long stay, signalled
by the rope, asking if he wanted TO be drawn
up. The signal was not answered Immediately,
and The rope was drawn taut. The act seems TO
have revived Hoar or to have brought him to
his senses for he signaed for the men TO stop
and followed this by the signal which indicated
danger. Al attempt to draw him up was again
stopped by the danger signal from below. The
repeating Of the alarm by Hoar convinced his
assistants that something serious was wrong.
and arrangements were hurriedly made 10 oh
tain man 10 go down to his aid. That the air
was working steadily and wen and danger from
that source was not great was shown by the
regular escape Of the exhaust of foul air. From
what the diver had told them Of the suction II
the intake the assistants believed that Hoar
had been dragged into the pipe and had found 1t
| impossible TO work back against the inflow If
water.
It was after O'Clock yesterday afternoon
! gsLen second diver arrived and went below
! lie remained down some time and rising re-
| ported the situation. He had communicated
| with the imperilled man by a handclasp and
had been answered. The diver worked all
| night, descending as often he dared and re-
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