Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-07-14
Near Fatality on
Yes al the
Barber Dock
PRAISE HEROES

Eight employees were asphyXiated
by gases one almost fatally in an oil
tank of the Norwegian tank steamer
Burgester which had just finished
dlscharging oil at the dock of the
Barber Asphalt Paving Company,
O'Clock and $50 o'clock Saturday
night. Most of the men remained in
the tank from two to four and one
half hours, when the last man was
taken from the putrid air of the
huge receptacle.
Engineer Max Wllliamstein who
was the second man to enter the tank
was nearly liefless when taken from
the trap, and was Immediately re-
moved to the city hospital, where af-
ter long and ceaseless efforts to re-
suscitate him he was revived, and dis
charged from the institution yester-
day morning. The engineer went in
to the tank to rescue the first entrant,
and the two were followed by the six
other men who entered in trying to
rescue each otherfi but were in turn
overcome as fast as they got into the
gas laden tank. DR.. William f.
Ramsay and Superintendent Marius S.
Darrow worked hard and Industrious
ly on the men as they brought from
the big receptacle, and resuscitated
them on the deck of the ship. This
morning every man seems fully re-
covered.
After the ship which arrived
Thursday, had discharged the corgo
of oil, and was ready to steam, 1t
was found that one Of the oil tanks
needed repairing. Engineer William
stein was employed to make the re-
pairs. He sent one of his men to
make a connection necessary in the
tank. The tank is located in the bot
tom of the aft end of the steamer.
The man uncovered a manhole plate
leading into the dark oil conveyor
and entered. He had only been In
few minutes when the engineer on the
outside heard stiffling cries as if he
were beins overcome. The engineer
Immediately entered to rescue his
workman, but was in turn overcome
by the volatile gases emanating from
the sides and bottom of the recently
discharged tank.
A few minutes elapsed and the en-
gineer did not reappear, SO another
workman entered the gas trap. He
was followed by five others, who were
willing to risk their lives to save
those of their com panions.
The whole crew of the ship was
summoned to the scene AMI men from
other vessels nearby came to aid in
the rescue. Superintendent Darrow
and DR.. Ramsay were Immediately
notified after the eight men had been
swallowed in the depth of the tank,
talrl r11a
BY concerted efforts In forming hu-
man chains of themselves and using
ropes the rescuers obtained one Of
the men from in the tank. He was
in an unconscious condition, and was
take to the deck of the ship. where
DR.. Ramsay, aided by Mr.. Darrow, eff
fected his resucltation.
One by one the other men were
taken from the death hole brought to
the deck to be revived. All were
In a serious condition and required
laborious work to bring them back
to consciousness. Engineer William
stein, who was the second to enter
and the last to be brought out, after
having been in the tank for more
than four hours, was in most crit
ical condition, so DR.. Ramsay had
him dispatched to the city hospital
Immediately.
A man from the steamer Maracas
and one from the Burgester showed
great bravery and pluck In their
fruitful efforts in rescuing those in
the tank, though overcome now and
then for a few seconds. they con-
tinued their heroic work until the
last of the eight had been released
from the gas hole.
The men were employed by the
Holiday & Boyd Company of Brook
lyn, who with the engineer had been
sent to repair the tank, and were
in no way connected with the Bar
ber company. The cool wind accom-
panying the storm of Saturday eve
ming facilitated the efforts of resuc-
citation Of the men on the deck of the
vessel.