The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1905-12-21
Swan to the Rescue of Two
Men Imprisoned in the East
River Tunnel.
TIE BORE FILLED WITH WATER.
The Entombed Men Had Been Huddled
on small Platform For More
Thaa ~ Hours.
The Water Was Prevented From En-
quilting Them BY the Use Of Com
pressed Alr-Were Exhausted
When Rescued.

New York, Dec. 20.-Three daring
swimmers reached two Italian laborers
who for more than 40 hours had been
of the Pennsylvania railroad by a cave
IN at the Long Island City end OF the
underwater bore.
Surrounded by water which threat
ened to engulf them, the moment the
compressed air should fail to hold Il in
check. the two en,Ombed men had kept
up constant communication with the
surface by rapping on the pipes They
were almost exhausted when three
men swan up 20 the platform on which
they were huddled. The two stronger
swimmers Of the three each took a
man upon his back while the third
swan along side TO lend assistance in
case Of need.
Ever since the cave-in, which filled
the shore end Of the bore, where the
men were working with water, more
than a hundred labOrers had worked
desperately TO sink a shaft to the point
where the imprisoned men we're
thought to be. Late Tuesday they
reached the concrete top Of the tun-
mel Then the work became so tedi-
GUS and slow that 1t seemed the men
could not be reached while alive.
in the meantime powerful pumps
were working to overcome the inflow
OF water from the river At first they
did not seem to gain. but finally there
came a slight lowering of the level in
the chOked entrance to the tunnel A
rowboat was sent for but when II ar
rived. it was seen that it must be
hours before the water should be suffi-
GENTLY reduced to permit Of the en-
trance Of boat
In imminent Peril.
At all times there was the danger
that the rush Of water from the river
would increase and I'LL the tunnel en-
trance to the roof.
The day was waning. and there was
still no indication that the tunnel top
would be pierced by the workers in
the temporary shaft. Neither did it
seem there would be a chance to use
a boat
Then II was that some one at the
entrance suggested that the rescuers
swim to the exhausted men who had
for 80 long been shut from the Hight
OF day and who had lived under the
heavy pressure OF compressed air for
a length Of time that made them help
less
Volunteers we're not long in coming
forward Benjamin Lewis. himself an
old tunnel worker and a cousin Of one
Of the imprisoned men. was one Of
them. Charles Murdorn was another
and Philip Edlondo was the third
without thought of their personal safe
~ these three men plunged in to the
icy water at the entrance and were
soon lost to view in the darkness OF
the bore. Barely two feet separated
the tunnel to perform the surface OF
the food water. Then followed anx-
ious moments for the watchers out
side. The swimmers had been gone
seemingly an age. when at last a
splashing of water brought news to
anxious ears that the quest had ended.
Lewis soon appeared in view with
one OF the entOmbed men on his back.
Then a mighty cheer was sent up.
Elondo next appeared with the second
laborer clinging TO him desperately.
Work on the shaft was stopped and
all five men were tenderly cared for.