The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1916-07-27
party was AZ hand u permit a de
scent into the tunnel, 90
Cause Of Explosion Unknown


that some workmen struck a POCKET
OF gas with pick or possibly gar
collected in the tunnel and became
ignited by an electric spark The tun-
mel was equipped with electrically
driven machinery for excavating
The party OF II workmen who were
caught by the explosion entered the
tunnel at s o'clock last night. The
work has been carried on in three
shifts. This force was in charge Of
Harry volkes as shift boss.
First intimation of the disaster
came when William j. Dolan, locs
tender in the air chamber at the en-
trance to the tunnel, heard the dun
boom OF an explosion. This was about
$3.50 p. m. Dolan was thrown against
the door leading from the air cham
Der into the tunnel. This door was
jammed by the blast and deadly
fumes poured out Of the tunnel. al
most overcoming Dolan. He finally
managed to close II and then releas.
ing the high pressure from the air
chamber he opened the door leading
to the crib above and gave the alarm
&c men at the surface of the lake.
Rescuers Fall
Supt. John johnson summoned vol.
unteers and led the first rescue par.
~ of volunteers down the elevator
and into the tunnel. One hundred and
fifty feet from the bottom ot the
shaft they began to stumble, crumpie
and 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 Johnsons flashlight
which he still grasped where he had
fallen. Almost dead himself he drag.
ged Peter McKenna to safety. Then
he collapsed. Others from the crib
took the three up the elevator and
they were placed on board boats that
had been attracted from shore by
rockets.
1t was two hours later that Van
Dusen, who had been summoned
from his homo by telegraph, organic
ed the second rescue party on shore
and went in the crib. With his men
he descended into the tunnel. His
men found Michael Keogh Of the first
rescue party still alive and dragged
him out. They went In again only to
suffer the same fate which had be-
fallen 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. 1t was
then that Van Dusen was brought
cut.
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.
No Report From Chemist
I'VE should never have gone into
the tunnel last night" said Dolan to-
day. I'VE never got a report from the
chemist whether the place was safe
and clear OF gas, but they said it was
all right for us to CO."
Mayor Davis and Chief OF Police
Rowe went to the scene of the hor
ror in tug early today.
The construction job on which the
loss OF life occurred is being done by
the city with direct labor. 1t con.
sists of building a tunnel from the
| water works in Lake Erie known as
Crib No. 8, to the new filtration plant
being built at West 5Sth street. This
tunnel will carry water to the filter
plant. now nearing completion, which
will filter the water supply of what
Is called the West Side section OF
the city Crib No. 8 is five miles from
shore. The tunnel mas peeh con-
structed between the shore and Crib
No. 4, which is two and half miles
from shore. The section on which
work is being done Is between Cribs
{ and 8. Fifteen hundred feet remain
10 be completed. The men who were
first trapped were working 100 feet
toward the shore from crib No. o.
The lake at Crib No. is 70 feet
deep. The tunnel is 30 feet under the
button of the lake and 10 feet in d.
ametcr. An elevator shaft leads from
crib No. 8 TO the tunnel entrance.
Reseuers Bodies Recovered
All of the 10 bodies so far recoV'
ored are of members of the frst and
second rescue party. Eleven work
mon originally entombed are stu
buried Rescuers believe the tunnel