The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-20
Fifteen Sink Before Com
rades' EyeS-Others
Trapped BY Flames.
FORTY-SEV TAKEN
FROM WATER BY TUGS
Score Believed Imprisoned in Tun-
nel-Fire Nears Tons of
Dynamite.

- y q
seventy-ive men were thrown into the
waters Of Lake Michigan early today
when a timber crib, three miles in the
lake. where they were employed, was
destroyed by fire.
A number of them, buffeted about by
the rough sea, were drowned. Sur
vivors declare that fifteen men sank
into the lake. after holding on TO the
burning edges OF the crib for az hour.
In addition 10 these, IL IS feared that
a number variously estimated from six
10 twenty-five We're caught in "a tunnel
under the lake with no means Of egress
and with the water rapidly huing the
tunnel.
AT $50 o'clock lhis morning, forty
seven had been taken from the water
about the crib by tugs. Nearly all of
them were badly burned and it is
feared several may die.
Temporary Structure.
The crib was a temporary affair used
AS a working shop by the laborers dur
ing the construction OF an intake tun-
mel from the shore 10 point about FIVE
miles out into the lake. The tunnel was
being built by George w. Jackson Com
psuy, for the city water department.
IN shape, with a diameter Of forty feet.
The superstTuctUTe stood twenty-five
feet above the lakes surface and was
used for a workshop and sleeping
apartments. The crib ran down TWEEN
ty-rVe feet under the lakes surface,
the part under water being used for the
storage OF tools and as a boiler room
Two or three tons OF dynamite were
also stored in the basement
Forty feet below the lakes surface
the tunnel connected with the crib by
shaft. steam elevator lifted the
men and tools up and down. The en-
gine was also used 10 rtu buckets over
cable TO carry dirt 10 the mainland.
Dramatic Story.
The survivors tell dramatic story.
With a heavy sea running, the men pre-
Ierred TO remain on the crib as long as
possible rather than take chances iu the
water.
The travelling buckets running 10 the
mainland were heavily manned in au
effort 20 lmprOVisg a breeCles buoy 10
carry the threatened men 20 shore. but
It was found that the engine had been
put out OF commission by the blaze.
This also cut off the nope of running
The elevator down 20 the tunnel TO res
cue the men imprisoned there. Most
OF the men remained on the crib until
The supcT-structure had been almost
burned away, but several, driven fran
tic by fear leaped into the water. When
The yimheTz OF the super-structure be-
lau 20 fall. the men ali ieaped into the
lake. many of them so badly burned that
they could scarcely keep ahOat
Survivors declare that they saw three
-ueu sink after struggling for half an
hour 20 keep ahoat. They did not come
up. They are.
william scuIIv, assistant superiuten-
dent John Connors, and Timekeeper
Mcdonald.
The water was filled with floating ice
cakes. some of men seized these cakes
and huns Others who were unable TO
of the egib. which by that time had
burned 10 the waters edge.
Rush TO Rescue.
Iu the meantime. the blaze having
been sighted from the sixfv-tighth
street crib and the shore. the tux T. T.
2EorlorI and ca fire tug were rushed TO
the some
The cries OF the surviving men came
@ the tugs long before they reached
the scene, but the heat was 10 intense
that they were unable al once to ger
near cauuuEH 10 the blazing crib no.
pick up the men stliI cIinaiue To o.
While the tugs were uaueuv.rfre ra
send boats tU tho rescue, several OF the
survivors who had clans TO- IHe cribs
IoosguIUz tlciT bold. dropped into In.
lake. They are supposed tg have per-
enough o. pick mp aN who -tIiI e'uu-
r0 the crib a.l Llus" WHO had seized
upon floating Zee cakes.
The tugs brought ia aI aF the ir-
llred and returned r1 the scene iu AM
effort 10 save the men supposed no De
sfU iu the tunnel
The number an work there ordinarily
is from sl1 tu teu-
Some OF the survivors. Uss ever. doe
clare that about twenty Uuu started
down Iutu the tunnel IH f". hope of