The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-07-26
HORROR Of GREAT GAS

Continued From First Page.)
This lack OF rescue apparatus was
roundly condemned by the rescuers.
and Mayor Harry l. Davis today prom
ised to conduct a rigid investigation
into this shortcoming, as well as into
the catastrophe itself.
The third rescue party was equipped
with helmets which had been as
sen BLEED, but nearly eleven hours had
elapsed following the explosion before
sufficient equipment to fit out the third
rescue party was at hand to permit a
descent into the tunnel
The cause Of the explosion has not
yet been ascertained. 1t Is supposed
that some workman struck a pocket
of gas with a pick or possibly gas had
collected in the tunnel and become
ignited by an electric spark The tun-
mel was equipped with electrically
driven machinery for excavating.
Doortendcr Gives Alarm.
The party OF eleven workmen who
were caught by the explosion entered
the tunnel at s o'clock last night Tho
WORK has been carried on in three
shifts. This shift was in charge Of
Harry Nokes as shift boss.
First intimation OF the disaster
came when William ]. Dolan. lock
tender in the air chamber at the en-
trance to the tunnel, heard the dull
| boom Of an explosion. This was about
/ $3.50 =. NJ. Dolan was thrown against
the door leading from the air cham
/ Der into the tunnel
This door was damned by the blast
and deadly fumes poured out of the
tunnel, almost overcoming Dolan. He
/ finally manager TO close II. and then
/ releasing the high pressure from the
| air chamber he opened the door lead
ing to the crib above and gave the
alarm TO men at the surface of the
lake
superintendent John johnson sum-
moned volunteers and led the first
rescue party of volunteers down the
| elevator and into tho tunnel. One
/ hundred and fifty feet from the bot
tom of the shaft they began to
stumble, crumple and fall, overcome
! by fumes.
Dolan, who had resumed his post in
! the~air chamber, rushed after them.
/ He saw a fash Of light in the dark
ness. II proved to be Johnson's flash
light, which he still grasped where he
! had fallen Dolan dragged him to
the bottom OF the elevator shaft and
went back. Almost dead himself he
dragged Potter McKenna TO safety.
T Ibcn ne collapsed. otnerS from the
crib took the three up the elevator
and they were PLACED aboard boats
/ which had been attracted from shore
/ by rockets.
Organizes Rescue Party.
1t WAS two hours later that Van
/ Duzen, who had been summoned
/ from his home by telephone. organ
tied the second rescue party on shore
and went to the crib. With his men
/ he descended into the tunnel His
men found Michael Keough Of the
/ first rescue party still alive and
dragged him out. They went in again,
! only 10 suffer the same fate which
! had befallen the first party, Finally
/ four OF them managed to stagger
back TO safety. The others did not
come out until the third rescue party
was organized and went after them.
1t WAS then that Van Duzen was
brought out.
1t became known today that work
IN the tunnel had been suspended
three days ago because gas was
found, The men sent into the tun-
mel last night went TO work believing
the gas had been eliminated
"We should never have gone into
the tunnel last night" said Dolan to-
day, I'VE never got report from
the chemist whether the place was
safe and clear Of gas, but they said
Il was all right for us to GO"