Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1904-10-13
DEATH LURKED IN
RA|Lv''v TUNNEL
Six Men Meet Death in Tunnel
Under St. Clair River.
.SUFFoCATEn BY COAL GAS
Coal Train Broke in Two While
Passing Through the Death-Deal-
ing Atnl Osphere-Train Crew
Died at Their Posts.

Port Huron, Mich, Oct. 10.-Six en-
ployes of the Grand Trunk railway
were suffocatedsby coal gas Sunday in
the st. Clair tunnel, which runs under
the st. Clair river from Port Huron to
Sarnia, Ont. A coai train broke In
two while passing through the tunnel,
and three of the train crew were suf-
focated while part of the train lay
stalled in the tunnel, the engineer lost
his life when he returned and endeav.
orede to push the stalled cars back to
safety, and two other rescuers per-
ished in vain attempts to penetrate the
gaseous atmosphere of the great tube.
The Dead.
A. 8. Bebb, Port Huron, superin-
tendent of terminals
John Coleman, engineer, Port Hu.
ron.
]. B. Simpson, conductor, sarnia.
Ont
D. T. Tinsley. conductor. Sarnia,
Ont.
Thomas McGrath, brakeman, Sarnia,
Ont.
d. A. Gillis, brakeman Sarnfa, Ont.
The train, which entered from the
American side of the tunnel, was made
up of II coal cars. When it broke,
Engineer Coleman realized that the
accident had happened, and with the
three cars that were still attached to
the engine, steamed out of the tunnel
into the Sarnia yards. He hastily de-
tached his engine and went back into
the tube for the stalled cars. When
his engine reached them he attempted
to push back through the tunnel and
out of the American portal. The
grade proved too steep. however, and
the attempt was failure. The engine
and cars rolled back into the gas-laden
tunnel, and Engineer Coleman was
suffocated at his post in the engine
cab. Fireman Fred Forester. with
great presence of mind, jumped into
the, partlyfilled water tank of the en-
gine, where there was enough air to
preserve his life, ALTHOUGH he is In q
serious condition.
When news of the broken train
reached the American side of the tun-
mel, Superintendent Begg, accompa
MED By two other employees, started
in on foot, hoping that the train was
near enough to the entrance, so that
they might rescue and carry out some
of the crew. They had gone but a
short distance when the coal gas be-
came sitting, and Begg succumbed.
The other two rescuers succeeded in
crawling to the portal of the tunnel
on their hands and knees.
Preparation for Rescue.
Meanwhile preparations were being
made at the Sarnia end Of the tunnel
to rescue the imprisoned train crew.
An engine with a party of rescuers
entered the tube, and had proceeded
but a short distance when they found
John Haley, track walker, lying un-
conscious ON the track. He was taken
out, and again the engine plunged into
the gaseous atmosphere. The rescu-
ers were overcome, however. by the
gas before the train was reached, and
Brakeman McGrath died Switchman
Blake, who was member of the par
ty,, after time made another attempt
to penetrate the gas. and this time sue
ceeded in reaching the stalled engine.
coupled 1t to the cars and ran the train
out into daylight. Fireman Forester
was in the water tank of the engine
The other two rescuers succeeded in
cued, and his escape is little short Of
miraculous.