The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-19
PRISONED IN TUNNEL HOOD.
WORKMAN COULD BE SEEN, BUT
NOT COMMUNICATED WITH.
Released at Last After Various Ways Had
Been Devised DinicuIty Was Due to
the Pressure OF the AIr-The Man
Was Not Injured by His Confinement.

Frank Miller, a locktender employed by
the Hudson Companies in work on the
tunnel running from Fifteenth streeb,
Jersey City, to Morton street. Manhattan,
was a prisoner in a bucket lock at the
foot of Fifteenth street, Jersey City, from
10 o'clock Yesterday morning until midnight.
Some portion OF the apparatus which
operates an elevator to the tunne ninety
feet below the surface gave way, and up
to midnight the combined efforts OF a
large force of men were of no avail IN
rescuing the prisoner.
The bucket lock stands on the surface
Its covering is of steel, and it looks like the
boiler Of a locomotive set on end. Inc
apparatus is such that when the outer door
opens the inner door leading to the shaft,
closes and the outer door cannot be opened
from within unless the inner door is closed
Miller's business was to operate an elevator
which transports workmen through a pipe
three feet in diameter to the tunnel,
Miller is a Pole and cannot understand
a word,of English. He could be seen through
a bullseye in the side Of the bucket lock,
but neither Supt. Manning Of the tunnel
work men no any Of his employees was
able to make him understand a word they
said to him.
They wrote questions for him to answer
and directions for his guidance and showed
the p through the bullseye, but were
ole by this method even to make him
comprehend.
They could see him sitting inside on a
little bench. All day he was in the same
position, sitting stolidly on his seat and
appa rently in a dazed condition.
Miller's brother reported the casa TO the
police late last night. Policeman Max
we'll was assured by Supt. Manning that
the Pole was in no danger, since there was
enough fresh air coming through the bulls
eve to keep him alive, and they could give
him food through the same opening. But
how thew were going TO release him without
DESTROYING the locker with all its compli-
oa,ed air chambers Mr.. Manning did not
know.
Il don't know how it happened said
the superintendent, before the rescue. land
don't believe the Pole does. do know
though. that he is in there and that we
can't get him out to save our souls what
we're going to do about it don't know, but
| do know that we don't want to smash
any valuable apparatus unless we We got 70;
one workman Sdll ne tllous'b ''O "
was caused by a carload of mud becoming
jammed in the elevator.
IF Miller had been a skilled man., said
this workman, "he could have got out
but ne simply sat there apparently
~stupefed and didn't do a thing to help
himself. The air pressure against the
outer door was too strong for him to open it,
but he could have relieved the pressure by
fixing the trouble in the elevator shaft.
This apparently he hasn't even tried to do
Miller was got ont at midnight. He was
somewhat hungry. but in good physical
and mental condition. The rescuers gave
him o plate OF SOUP and he went home.
A largo force Of men was employed in
the tunnel at the time Of the mishap, Both
bores of the tunnel are complete and no
one of them was in danger. Other locks
we're used to bring them to the surface.