Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-01-21

Chicago. Jan. 20.-BloWn to pieces
by exploding powder, burned to death
by the resultant fire, or drowned in
the icy waters of Lake Michigan. was
the fate today OF some fifty-three
workmen who We're working on a sub
marine tunnel at wooden crib, a mile
and a half from shore The crib was
used in the construction of q new sub
marine water tunnel connecting with
the South Side shore OF the city at
Seventy third street.
95 Men Were at Work.
1t is known that ninety-hve work.
men wore employed in the crib and
the connecting tunnel at the time Of
the explosion which started the fire
and blew or drove the men into the
water. The work OF the destroying
elements was begun so unexpectedly
and reaped its harvest of dead and
injured with such swiftness that the
contracting firm of George w. Jackson
and the rescuers have been unable to
arrive at anything like an accurate
list Of those who persisted, or others
who escaped the fury Of the flames OF
the waters Of the lake.
Many Injured in Hospitals.
All South Side hospitals are filed
with injured men tonight. City fire.
boats and tugs Of the construction
company made frequent trips far into
the night to the scene OF the disaster,
through the heavy ice foes.
Most of the Workmen Slept at the
Crib.
Owing to the difficulty experienced
by small craft in reaching the crib
during the winter most OF the work.
men employed ON the work, particular
ly those who had no families, slept in
temporary hunks at the crib. It was
Just as these men had been awakened
for the days work that the explosion
and subsequent fire caused the panic
which resulted in the great loss OF life.
Origin of the Explosion.
As nearly as the investigators have
| been able to ascertain, the explosion
haas It's origin in a Lowder house of
| small dimensions situated about one
hundred yards from the crib structure
proper, but at the same time being a
part Of the general structure, built on
! foundations resting on the bottom of
| the lake at this point. I'm this out
house the George w. Jackson company
stored from time TO time just enough
! powder and dynamite for urgent use IN
| the work Of constructing the water
| tunnel, and in soma manner not yet
| known the explosives were put into
action.
Cut OFF from Quick Succor.
The full detonation, mufhed as IT
was by the crunching of floating ice
against the crib and the atmosphere
laden with heavy fog, simply aroused
the attention of the WOrkmen accord
ing 10 survivors. and 1t was not until
the heat of the flames and the sitting
| smoke penetrated the so-called living
room" OF the crib and the tunnel be-
| meath the waters Of the lake that the
full import Of the disaster dawned up
on the worlmen, cut off from quick
succor.
One Workman With Cool Head.
One Of the workmen, with a cooler
head than his fellows. abandoned the
shouting and frantic men on the crib
platform and made his way through
the smoke to a little inclosure in which
was telephone which communicated
/ with the shore station. The drowsy
attendant on shore was brought into
action by a violent ringing of the tele-
phone bell, and this was the message
which set on foot the work of rescue:
The crib is on fire. For Gods saks,
send help at once or we will be burned
| alive, the tug-the tug"
At this point communication ceased
and through the fog an occasional
burst Of flame and an unmistakeable
odor of smoke made it known to the
watchers on shore that the telephone
| message was iT earnest
Tug Starts to the Rescue.
The tug T. T. Morford, in charge of
Captain johnson. had forced her PROV
earlier in the morning 10 an anchorage
within a short distance of the imperii-
ed crib and this boat was the first TO
begin the work Of rescuing the fren-
zied workmen. The ice made II i'm
possible for the tug 10 reach the inn
provised pier, but a small boat was