Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-01-21
Blown to Pieces by Explosion, Burned by Re-
Sultant Fire or Drowned in Icy Waters
FEARFUL DISASTER IN LAKE MICHIGAN
Men Working Submarine Tunnel Connecting
with South Side Shore, Chicago-Tugs Plow Through
Ice Floes to Scene of Disaster Mile and Half from
Shore-I hrty-Nine Worbmen Rescued.

placed in service 10 carry the injured
TO The steamer and to rescue those who
had plunged into the waters OF the
lake rather than face the flames which
were raging on the crib structure.
Thirty-Nine Men Rescued.
After several hours Of heroic work
on the part Of the rescUers, thirty
nine wor6men were rescued. When
the fire tug Conway and her crew had
finally quenchcd the flames fifty-three
bodies had been carried to the shore
and placed In morgues in South Chi
caso awaiting identification. The bod
les of the victims In the majority OF
instances We're unrecoginzable and the
contracting firm gave out a list OF
missing. which probably will be the
same as will be announced as the Of
fetal list Of the dead when the coroner
has completed his investigation.
Thousands of Spectators Lined the
Shore.
As the news OF the disaster spread
throughout the South Side Of the city
thousands OF anxious men, women and
children took up points OF vantage
along the lake shore and stood shiver-
ing hour after hour as the tugs labori-
ously plowed their was through the ice
foes with their cargoes Of burned and
misshapen victims. The fireboat I'LL
nois was obliged to remain some dis
tance from the burning crib, but while
powerful streams were directed from
IL on the burning structure small boats
made frequent trips and transferred
the dead and wounded to the Morford,
the Conway and other smaller tugs that
succeeded in making an opening
through the ice.
HIeartrendina Scenes at Morque.
The scenes on shore and in tho
morgues in South Chicago and Grand
Crossing were rife with grief and deso-
lation.
Description 9f the Tunnel.
The tunnel in the building Of which
the crib was used Is being constructed
in sections By the George w. Jack
son company The first section of the
tunnel begins at the shore. The crib.
a mile and a half out, marked the be-
ginning Of the second section, extend
ing still further into the lake. These
two sections had not yet been Joined
and therefore no underground escape
to shore was possible.
The superstructure OF the crib was
board building Of two stories. II
was surrounded BY a narrow platform
or pier Under IL a shaft Of steel and
concrete about twenty feet in dame
ter ran down 100 feet TO the tunnel
proper.
A tramway consisting Of strong steel
cables on which huge bucket cars trav-
e!ed gave connection with the shore
for the transfer Of supplies and
earth.
Exact Number of Dead Not Known.
In summer time the men were taken
TO and from their work by tug, but
in winter this was impossible and the
men were housed in the crib. As IL
is not certain just how many men were
IN the crib and tunnel at the time OF
the accident. the exact number OF dead
will not be known until rescuers are
able to enter the water tunnel run
ming lakeward from the crib. Air
pressure was used in this portion OF
the tunnel. but as the pumping plant
became disabled soon after the dis
covery Of the fire, Il is thought GER
tain that any who were in the tunnel
must have perished, because smoke
would have made breathing impossi-
BILE The foreman in charge OF the
work is not certain, however. whether
any workmen went far enough into tho
tunnel to make escape impossible
when the fire started.
report That Men Are clinsina to los
Floes.
Acting on a report that men have
been seen cllnging to ice foes some
distance from the scene of the dlsas-
ter. Fire Chief Koran has ordered the
fire tug Illinois to patrol the lake dur
ing the night in the hope Of rescue.
Investigation Started.
The police have already started an
investigation with a view TO placing
the responsibility for the disaster. and
Coroner Hoffman, after impanellng a
jury viii continue the inquest for q
week.