The Beaumont enterprise. [volume] (Beaumont, Tex.) 1904-current, 1904-10-10
THREE RtSCUERS AL SO PERISH IN AN ATTEMPT
TO BRING TRAIN CREW OUT INTO SAFETY
Heroic Engineer Coleman Was Smothered IN the Cab Of
Hts Engine, Having Gone Back After Hts
Companions On the Detached SEC.
ton. Escape of Fireman.

Port Huron, Mich. Oct. 9.-Sl'
employees of the Grand Trunk rail
road were suifOcatcd by coal ga
early today In the st. Clair tunnel
which runs under the st. Clair .iysl
from Port Huron to Sarnia, Ont.
A coal train broke in two while
passing through the tunnel and three
Of the train crew were sulfOcatud
While part of the train lay stalleI in
TIE tunnel. The engineer lost his
lie when he returned and endeavorcO
to push the stalled cars back ~
safety and two other rescuers per.
ished in vain attempts to- penetrate
the gaseous atmosphere of the great
tunnel
List of tire Dead.
The dead:
A. S. BERG, Port Huron, superin-
tendent of terminal
ENGINEER JOHN COLEM AN,
Port Huron.
CONDUCTOR J. b. SIMPSON, s;ar.
MIA Ont.
CONDUCTOR ID. T. TINSLEY, Sar.
mia, Ont.
BRAKEMAN TOM M'GRATH, Sar-
mia, Ont.
BRAKEMAN d. A. GILLIS. Sar-
mia, Ont.
Heroic Engineer Coleman.
The train which entered from the
American side of the tunnel, was
made up Of II coal cars. When 1t
broke, Engineer Coleman realized
that the accident had happened, and
with three cars that were still at
tached to tire engine, steamed out
of the tunnel into the Sarnia yards.
He hastily detached his engine ana
went back into the tunnel for the
stalled cars. When his engine reach'
ed them, he attempted to push theH
back through the tunnel and out on
the American side. The grade proved
too steep, however, and the attShlpI
was a failure. The engine ana cars
rolled back into the tunnel and Engi'
neer Coleman was suffocated at MS
post in the engine cab. HIS nremah'
Fred Forester, with great presence
of mind, jumped into the partly illled
water tank of the engine. where therc
was enough air to preserve his ne
although he Is in a serious condition
tonight.
ATTEMPTS at Rescue.
Win news of the broken tram
reached the American side, OF the
tunnel Superintendent Begg, accom-
panied by two other employees started
in on foot hoping that the train was
near enough to the entrance so that
ihcy might rescue and carry out
some OF the crew. They had gon"
hut n short distance when the coal
rumbcd. The other two rescuers sue
cccdcd in crawling to the portal OF
Inc tunnel on their hands and knees.
Meanwhile, preparations were be-
ing made at the Sarina end oi tho
unncI 10 rescue the imprisoned tram
crew. An engine with a party of res
rucrs entered the tube and had pro
rccdcd hut p short distance when
hey found John Haley, track walk
,r. living unconscious on the track.
IIc was taken out and again the on
zine plunged into the gaseous atmos-
there. The rcscucrs were overcome
,owcver. by the gas. before the train |,
vas reached. and Brakeman McGrath
lied. Switchman Blake, who was a y
member OF the party after time
made another attempt 10 pcnoira'" 4
he gas and this time succeeded IN !
-naching the stalled engine. coupled &
I 10 the cars and ran the train out
nto The daylight Sim on. Tinsley
nd ellis were found dead in the
.abOosc. Fireman Forester was in
he water tank Of the engine nearly
wo hours before being rescued and
IFS esra7e o. regarded a. miraculous.