New-York tribune., 1911-02-01
"SAND HOGS DROWN
IN BRIDGE CA|SSON
Ten or Twelve Negroes Lose
Their Lives While Working
Under River Near Newark.
THEY ARE CAUGHT LIKE RATS
Men Were on New Pennsylvania
Drawbridge at Centre Street
Broken Chain Caused
the Accident.

At least ten or twelve negro sand
hogs" were drowned like rats In the Pas
sale River early this morning. They
were working in Caisson used in the
construction of the Pennsylvania Rail-
ROAD bridge over the river at Centre
street. Newark.
The caisson was thirty feet below the
surface Of the water, and the breaking
of a derrick chain caused a ton of earth
to fall. ripping open the doors to the
big air chamber and flooding it.
The bridge is being constructed by the
PENNSYLVANIA short line. and the work IS
being done under what is known as the
caisson system. There were three cham
bers. one is called the man chamber
where the men were stationed.
The two others adjcin Il and are USED
as bucket shafts. The material is raised
from these shafts by huge derrick as
much as a ton Of debris being lifted at
time. Surrounding these shafts are sew
oral small doors. which close automat-
tcally as the loads of material pass them.
The entire casson is seven feet high,
fifty feet long and twenty-five feet wide
The gang employed by the Pennsylva-
MIA to do this particular piece Of work
vas recruited from Baltimore. Philadel-
phia and New York. and il would ap-
pear that the negroes followed this line
throughout the year, travelling from
rlace to place wherever bridges Of TINS
method Of construction were being built
None Of then. had regular abiding places.
The entire force OF fifteen men were at
their work in the caissOn shortly AFTER
midnight. Several loads Of dirt had oeeh
safely lifted 20 the surface. Then. with
ont any warning, as a bundle was Just
about ready 10 be hoisted above the sur
face. one Of the large chains on the
derrick snapped
Water Cuts OF Escape.
The huge mass came crashing down
| the shaft and broke each door as II
nassed by. Then the water flooded ~
and left no possible means Of escape tc
the imprisoned men. jeremiah Murph|
white man. was the foreman OF thc
| lob and was above in charge OF the work
He at once realized what had hap
nened and hurried for assistance. other.
al work in the vicinity also rushed tC
I the scene. The reserves OF three sta
tons responded 10 the call and ambu-
lances also appeared.
one Of the would-be rescuers was low
cred into the mouth of the caisson and
was able 10 pass a rope around one OF
the trapped men, but the victim was
dead when hoisted out. Another similal
effort failed. and then IL was decided no
70 risk further the lives Of those IN TIL
rescuing party
II is believed that the only way 10 &c
~ the bodies will be 10 have divers q
down and repair the doors and pipes
carving the air. II Is feared that. unless
the repair work is done first. even th'
divers will be unable to reach the men.
County Physician Mckenzie. who ar
rived about an hour after the accident
said he would order an inquest into th'
cause.
The Centre street bridge vas recently
acquired by the McAdoo tunnel system
bv agreement with the Pennsylvania FOL
the purpose of extending the Hudson
River tunnels direct 10 Newark The
snan is intended To- carry the tunnel eX
tension irto the heart of Newark across
the PassaiC.