Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-06-01
Street DROPS OUT OF SIGHT
Two Men and a Boy Go Down
With It.
sewer Bursts under Pressure of I'M
mensc Volume of water, Under
mining Entire Width of North
Bend mt Park street.

Three men had n narrow escape from
death, one being seriously injured, when
they were buried under mass of earth
and heavy timber, after falling distances
varying from 100 to 800 feet, Tuesday
afternoon when the bank over which
North Bend street is built collapsed at
the head of Park street. as the result
of undermining caused by the bursting
of a main sewer pipe and the con-
sequent release of a large volume of
water, swelled by the recent heavy rains
early Tuesday morning and afternoon.
The men who were standing at the head
of Park street when the earth suddenly
vanished from beneath their feet were
George II. Ladue of 236 Park street and
G. L. Gilbert and his 16-year-oid son,
Sherman T.. Gilbert, of 2l0 Park street.
Mr.. Ladue, who is 6S years old. is con-
fined to his bed and under the care of n
physician as the result of the shock and
injuries received in the accident, while
Mr.. Gilbert and his son, although badly
shaken up and bruised, are able to be
about. No houses collapsed as the result
of the cave-in, although there is firm
ground for only few feet beyond the
residence at 2i1 Park street. which APP
break in the bank is triangular shaped
with Park street as the vertex. and until
the earth settles, it Is impossible to say
just how many yards of dirt will he re-
CURED to fill the cavity The entire width
of North Bend street and a few feet
Of Park street are gone, so that travellers
will be forced to make a considerable
detour at this point. a telegraph pole on
North Bend street also went down. but
is so situated that it can be repaired
without a great deal of difficulty
| During the thunder storms OF early
! Tuesday morning and the afternoon
| l.G0 inches of rain fell. 50 of which came
| during the afternoon storm rendering it
| difficult for the city sewers to dispose Of
! such a large amount of rainfall in so
short n time. The two sewers at the cor
ner of Park and North Bend streets be-
came clogged with sand and debris dur
| ing the storm, and Immediately after it
| ceased several of the residents in that
vicinity attempted to remove the OBJ
! structons. The cleaning out of the
sewers caused an unusually large thrush
of water into the main sewer pipe, as
Park street between Cedar and North
Bend streets was flooded nearly half its
length at the storms close Unseen by
the workers above. the main sewer pipe
in the bank burst, and a large stream Of
water poured forth. washing away not
only the dirt, but the tmbers which sup
ported the bank.
Ladue and the Gilberts were standing
in the center of North Bend street witt,
a number of people, including several
little children. hut n short distance away
when. without the slightest warning, the
earth dropped from beneath their fee,
and they went HURTING headlong through
space, with heavy pieces of timber
| whirling about them. Mr.. Ladue came
to a stop after falling about $50 feet
being buried in the mud over his head
The Gilberts, father and son. who Were
standing n trine to the left of M
Ladue. fell some distance further, beinc
weighted down with rubber coats anC
boots, but did not become so deeply EN-.
bedded in the mire, AS soon as the
bystanders could recover from their sur
prise and the earth had somewhat settled
they quickly went to the assistance o.
the ongulfed men. Ladue managed to di.
his head out Of the mud and wa.
assisted up the bank, as We're tht
Gi.horts.
Miss Mary Laduc. who from the win
dow saw her father disappear over tn,
bank, sent a hurry call to the police
station and also summoned DR.. G. /,
Latour of Elmwood avenue, who dressed
Mr.. Ladues injuries. Chief of Polio
Russell and Chief Stockwell Of the fir
department We're quickly on hand and
Gordon of policemen was drawn aroun,
the cave-in to keep out of danger tn
ihronE of curious spectators whicl
! ! puipl;ly berp1