Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-01-21

We're suspended gave physical con
nection with the shore. In summe
the men We're taken to and from thei
work by the tug Morford but in win
ter the men were housed in the crib
Supplies were sent out by the sus
pended trolley.
Until such time as the rescuers ar,
| able to enter the water tunnel il vii
not be known how many perished be
low the surface of the lake Air pres
sure was used in this portion of tn,
work an das the generating plant be.
came disabled soon after the fire
started. it is thought certain that those
at work in the tunnel must have per
ished
Many survivors kept themselves
afloat by clinging to the ice after thes
had jumped from the burning crib
1t is known that at least three who
sought safety i'm this manner wer.
drowned All of those first rescued
were suffering from cuts or burns and
benumbed with the cold.
Private homes were thrown open
for the care of the injured by the resi-
dents but the need for physicians and
nurses was small after the tugs had
made two or three trips to the shore.
From that time until darkness HID
the smouldering crib from the watch
ers on shore. the boat loads consisted
of silent forms piled in heaps upon the
ice coated decks.
The majority of the bodies talter
from the ruins of the crib We're found
near the mouth Of the tunnel the
terror stricken men evidently rushinb
to this spot as a last hope as the
flames crept toward them Not a
remnant of clothing was found on the
mutilated bodies.
From Seventy-flrst to Seventy
ninth street was lined by thousands OF
men. women and children, who We're
powerless to lend aid When the news
of the disaster spread the pubic
schools were deserted and weeping
wives, with their children huddled
about them, watching anxiously for
the return trips of the struggling
craft, carrying their cargo of injured
and dead.
"The calamity is rendered all the
more heartrending." said Coroner
Hoffman, because relatives Will find
it next to impossible to identity tire
dead.
Among the bodies that have been
placed in undertaking establishments
not one is recognizable. Every par
ticle of clothing hs been burned
away and features have been charreu
beyond recognition
According to the records of the
George w. Jackson Construction COM
pany forty-six men are missing
Acting on q report that men have
been seen elinging to ice floes some
distance from the scene of the dis
aster. Fire Chief Horan has ordered
the fire tug Illinois to patrol the lake
in the vicinity of the crib during the
night in the hope of making rescues
The police have already started an
with view to placing
the responsibility for the disaster,
and Coroner Hoffman is empanelllns
a jury who will continue the inquest
for Il week. In the meantime George
w. Jackson, owner of the eonstruc-
ton company, has arranged to pro-
vide burial plots for the victims, the
majority of whom depended upon
their hazardous toll in the tunnel for
a living for themselves and their fam
lilies
Charles Rose. one of those who
were rescued. his face blistered and
bleeding. told a graphic story of his
escape.
FLAMES, flames. nothing but
flames" he said. "They were every
where, all in an instant. knew
every nook and Granny of the place
and was able to save my life but the
other poor fellows never had a chance
to get away They either attempted
to rush to the first floor or did not
know on which side the windows were.
They were more fortunate. however.
than those below in the tunnel. who
| am afraid have perished. There
was no warning. Everybody became
frightened at the same instant as the
flames leaped at us from every direc-
tion and everybody rushed madly to-
ward what they thought were windows
or doors. Ii was only a few minutes
before the building was gone.
Wind whipped the waters into high
sea and the crashing of the big pieces
OF ice together ADDED to the danger.
when | neared the crib said Cap
tain Johnson of the tug Morford. i
saw a number Of men. their clothing
ablaze run out of the blazing struc-
ture and jump into the lake.
when we got within fifty feet Of
the crib I slowed down the engine and
we began throwing out ropes and life
belts to the men in the water. When
We bumped against the ruined struc-
~ =
but others were so unnerved that we
had to climb out and drag them
lboasl. It. was H,l.lle We. E.ere doing.
this that the second explosion occur
red and backed the tug away. We