The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1904-10-13
TRA|NMEN MEET
DEATH IN TUNNEL
SIX MEN ARE sUFFocATED BY
COAL GAS.
HORROR IN ST. CLAIR TUNNEL
Train Breaks in Two While Passing
Through Great Tube-Three OF
the Victims Perish in Attempt
to Rescue Others.

Port Huron, Mich, Oct. 10.-Six en-
ployes OF the Grand Trunk railway
were suifocated 20 Geath by coal gas
early Sunday in the st. Clair tunnel,
which runs under the st. Clair river
from Port Huron to Sarnia, Ontario.
A coal train bronze in two while passing
through the tunnel and three of the
train crew were suffocated while part
Of the train lay stalled in the tunnel.
The engineer lost his life when he re-
turned and eIdeavored to push the
stalled cars back to safety and two
other rescuers persisted in vain at
tempts to penetrate. the gaseous at
mosphere o. the great tube.
The Victims.
The dead are: ..
A. S. Begg, Port Huron, superintend-
emit of terminals.
Engineer John Coleman, Port Huron.
Conductor D. 7. Tinsley, Sarnia, Ont.
Brakeman Thomas McGrath, Sarnia,
Ont.
Brakem IN D. A. ellis, Sarnia, Ont.
Heroic Engineer Dies.
lnG
American side of the tunnel was made
up of II coal cars When it broke, En-
gineer Coleman realized that the acct
dent 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 detached
his engine and went back into the tube
for the stalled cars. When his engine
reached them he attempted to push
them back through the tunnel and out
OF the American portal. The grade
proved too steep, however, and the at
tempt was failure. The engine and
cars rolled back into the gas-laden tun-
mel and Engineer Coleman was suffo-
Gated at his post in the engine cab.
His fireman, Fred Forester, with great
presence of mind, jumped into the
partly filed water tank of the engine,
where there was enough air to preserve
his life, although he is in a serious
condition.
Rescuers Perish.
When the news of the broken train
reached the American side of the tun-
mel, Superintendent Begg, accompanied
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 short
distance when the coal gas became
sitting and Begg succumbed. The other
two rescuers succeeded in crawling to
the portal of the tunnel on their hands
and knees. 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 pro-
ceeded but short distance when they
found John Haley, a track walker, ly.
ing unconscious on the track. He was
taken out anu again the engine plunged
into the gaseous atmosphere. The res
cueers were overcome, however, by the
gas before the train was reached and
Brakeman McGrath died. Switchmar
Blake, who was member of the
party, after time made another at.
tempt to penetrate the gas, and this
time succeeded in reaching the stalled
engine, coupled it to the cars and rar
the train out into daylight. Simpson
Tinsley and ellis were found dead in
the caboose. Fireman Forester was in
the water tank nearly two hours before
he was rescued and his escape is little
short of miraculous.