Morris tribune., 1909-01-23
Fire Destroys Intake Crib in
Lake Off Chicago.
SCORES OF WORKMEN IN TRAP
Forced to Jump Into Lake to Es-
cape Death in Flames.

Chicago, Jan. 21.-With mile and
q half of treacherous drifting ice cut
ting them off from ready communica-
tion with the shore at least fifty
three workmen are included among
the list of missing and the majority
of these already are known to be
dead as the result of fire which had
it's origin in powder vault attached
10 the intermediate crib used in the
construction of new water tunnel
connecting with the South Side OF the
city at Seventy-third street. 1t is
known that ninety-five workmen were
employed in the crib and the connec-
ing tunnel at the time of the fire, but
the work of the destroying element
was begun so Unexpectedly and reaped
its harvest of dead and injured with
such swiftness that the contracting
firm of George w. Jackson & Co. and
the rescuers have been unable to ar
rive at anything like an accurate list
of those who perished and others who
escaped the fury of the flames or the
icy waters of Lake Michigan.
Owing to the diff 1culty of small
steam craft to reach the crib during
the winter majority of the workmen
employed on the work, especially
those who were without families, slept
in temporary structures and it was
before these had been awakened for
the days routine that the explosion
and subsequent fire caused the pande-
monium which resulted in the loss OF
at least fifty-three lives.
AS nearly as the investigators have
been able to ascertain the explosion
had it's origin in a powder house OF
small dimensions, situated about 100
yards from the crib structure proper,
but at the same time being part Of
the general structure built on founda-
tfons resting on the bottom of the
lake at this point.
Slow to Realize Peril.
The dull detonation, muffled as it
was by the crunching of floating ice
against the crib and the atmosphere
laden with heavy fog, simply aroused
ing to survivors, and it 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
uprn the little colony Of workmen cut
off almost completely from human sue
cor
One of the workmen made his way
through the smoke to the little en-
closure in which telephone communl-
cation had been established with the
shore stations The drowsy attendant
at this point was brought into action
by a violent ringing of the bell and
this was the message which set on
foot the work of rescue.
The tug T. T. Morford, in charge OF
Captain Johnson, had forced its PROV
earlier in the morning to an anchor
age within short distance of the i'm
perilled crib and this was placed
into service at the outset in the work
of rescuing the frenzied workmen.
The ice made it impossible for the
tug to reach the improvised pier, but
a small boat was placed in service to
carry the injured to the steamer and
rescue those who had plunged into the
waters of the lake rather than face
the flames, which we're raging on the
crib structure.
After several hours of work on the
part of the rescuers, in which heroism
stood forth even In the heavy fog and
drifting smoke, thirty-nine workmen
were rescued and when the fire tug
Conway and its crew had succeeded