The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-21
MANY LIVES ARE LOST
 MHOT FIRE ON LAKE
Powder Explodes in Tunnel Under Ice. Caked Waters Near Chicago and
 Dramatic Scene IS Presented.

Chicago. Ill, Jan. 20--with a mile and half of treacherous drifting ice cutting them off from ready communi- cation with the shore. at least fifty three workmen are included in the lisi of missing and the. majority of these already are known to be dead, as the result of a fire which had it's origin today in a powder vault attached to the intermediate crib used In the con struction of new water tunnel con meeting the lake with the south side of. the city at seventy-third Street. It is known that ninety-five wofk- men were employed in the crib and the connecting tunnel at the time of the fire. but the work of the destroy ing element was begun so Hnexpected- fly and reaped It's 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 perished and others who escaped the fury of the flames or the icy waters of the lake.
 The hospitals at South Chicago and in all parts of the Southside are filled with injured and city fire boats, AS well as the tugs of the construction company, are doing their best to make | frequent trips to the scene of the dis trict through the heavy fee fioes. l Owing to the difficulty of reaching the crib in small craft during the win lter, the majority of the workmen em- lployed on the work and particularly those who were without families slept | in temporary structures and it was just as these had been awakened Tor the days routine that the explosion and subsequent fire caused the pande- monium which resulted In the loss of at least flfty-three lives.
 As nearly as the investigators have been able to ascertain the explosion had. its origin in a powder house of small dimensions. situated about 100 yards from the crib structure proper. but at the time being a part of the general structure built in foundations resting on the bottom of the lake at this place.
 Tn this outhouse the George w Jack son Company stored from time to tinc just enough powder and dynamite for urgent use in the work of constructing the water tunnel and in some manner. little short of mysterious. the deadly explosives were put into action.
 | Cut off From Aid.
 The dull detonation, muffled as 1t was by the crunching of floating ice against the crib and the atmosphere laden with heavy fog simply aroused
  ing to survivors and 1t was not until the heat of the flames and the stiflins smoke penetrated the so-cAlled living room" of the crib and the tunnel be- I heath the waters of the lake that the Inn import of the disaster dawned on tlfe little colony of workmen cut OH almost completely from human succqf One of the workmen. with cooler head than his fellows. abandoned the shouting and frantic group on the, cftn platform and made his way through the smoke to the little enclosure m which telephone communication hac heen established with the shore sta= tion. The drowsy attendant at this noint was brought into action by a violent ringing of the bell and this was the message which set on foot Nhe work of rescue:
 "rhe crib Is on fire; for Gods sake send help at once, or we Will De burned alive. The tug
 At this point communication ceased and through the fog the men on shore barely discerned occasional bursts or flame and unmistakable odor ot smok" made it known to the watchers on shore that a tragedy was probably be- ing enacted mile and half out In the lake. The tug T. T. Morford, In charge of Captain Johnson. had forced lits prow earlier in the morning to an lauchorage within "a short distance of the imperifed crib and this was placed into service at the outset in the work os rescuIng the frenzied workmen.
 The ice made it impossible for the +up to reach the improvised pier. but a small boat was placed in service te