New Britain herald., 1916-07-25
P KNOWN DEAD IN
 LAKE ERIE TUNNEL
Continued From First Pagel.

pected rescuers will be able to get through the gas to the men trapped in the tunnel
 Cause Not Ascertained.
 The cause of the explosion has not yet been ascertained. The tunnel was equipped with electrically driven ma chinery for eXcavating.
 The party of eleven workmen, who were caught by the explosion, entered the tunnel at s o'clock last night. About 9:3O D. m, the explosion oc- cured. Deadly fumes almost over came Lock Tender Dolan. He man aged to close the lock and then, re- leasing the high pressure from the air chamber, he opened the door lead ing to the crib above and gave 1he alarm to men at the surface of the lake. Superintendent Johnson sum- moned villagers and led the first res cue party of villagers down the eleva- tors and into the tunnels. One hun dred and fifty feet from the bottom of the shaft they began to fall, overcome by fumes. Dolan who had resumed his post in the air chamber, rushed after them. He saw flash of light in the darkness. It proved to be Johnson's f1ashlight which he still
  dragged him to the bottom of the elevator shaft and then went back. AL most dead himself he dragged Peter McKenna to safety. Then he col lapsed. Others from the crib took the three up tn elevator and they were placed aboard boats.
 It was two hours later that Van Duzen, organized the second rescue party on shore and went to the crib. With his men he descended into the tunnel. They found Michael Keough of the first rescue party still alive and dragged him out. They went in again, only to 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 or ganized and went after them
 Gas Found Three Days Ago.
 It became known today that work in the tunnel had been suspended three days ago because gas was found. The men sent into the tunnel last night went to work believing the gas had been eliminated.
 The construction job on which the loss of life occurred is being done by the city with direct labor. The acci dent is the first of any consequence since the new tunnel was started in 1914. The tunnel is to cost $1, ,5O0.OOO and will connect with a filtration plant designed to give Cleveland pure water.
 Seventy lives were lost in the building of Cleveland's other water tunnel through which the present sup ply passes.
 Victims May Be Under Mud.
 All of the ten bodies so far re- covered are of members of the first and second rescue parties. ReScuerS believe the tunnel caved in after the explosion and remaining victims are buried under tons of mud and may not be reached for days.
 Mayor Davis issued statement today in which he said:' "The con- struction of the water works tunnel was begun under the previous ad- ministration and the supervision has been in charge of men selected by that administration. They have been supplied with all the equipment they have asked for. I supposed they had all they needed An investigation into the entire disaster will start Wednesday,"
 The previous administration to which the mayor referred was that headed by Newton D. Baker. now secretary of war.
 In addition to the city probe there will be three other investigations of the horror by the federal, state and county authorities.