Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-07-26
Fear of Second Gas Explo-
sion in Tunnel DeterS
Rescue Work.
OPEN 4 PROBES OF
CLEVELAND MISHAP
Cause Of Disaster Which
Cost % Men Lives Not
Determined.

~ officials investigating the water
works tunnel disaster. which cost ~
lives. ordered all attempts to reach
the bodies of the II men imprisoned
in the tunnel abandoned late today
until some time tomorrow.
Tests of the gas in the tunnel
through which the rescuers had TO
pass showed that it is highly eXplo-
sive, and the officials feared a second
explosion. An attempt will be made
TO pump out the gas.
All hope that any of the Il men
trapped in the tunnel are alive mas
been abandoned. Ten bodies, those
of members of two rescue parties
which tried to reach the doomed men
but themselves succumbed to the
deadly gas, are in the morgue. che
eight injured men, also members Of
the rescue parties, will recover.
Institute Four Probes.
Four inyestigations--city, county,
state and federal-will be started to-
morrow to determine the cause of the
gas explosion near the five-nilc cI1b
end of the tunnel last night wh.c h
entombed the IL men and released
the gas which overcame the two res
cue parties. The lack of safety de-
vices such as gas helmets and pull
motors, at the crib and shore ends
of the l6,000-foot tunnel also will
be investigated.
The frantic efforts of Gustav V. Van
Dusen, superintendent of waterworks
construction, and the members of the
two rescue parties to reach the men
imprisoned by the explosion without
gas helmets or pulmotors, resulted in
the increase in the death list. This
afternoon third rescue party
equipped with the safety devices on
tered the tunnel and recovered the
rescuers, ten of whom were dead.
Leaders of the third party of rescuers
declared their belief that the dozen
tunnel workers bodies are entombed
in seven or eight feet of debris and
that 1t will be the work of at least TWO
days to dig them out
Wiring Was Faulty.
According to the federal investti-
gators the electric wiring in the tun-
mel was faulty. They would not Ven
ture an opinion as to the cause of the
explosion, but most of those con
cerned with the disaster declare that
one of the unfortunate IL workmen
probably jabbed his pick into large
pocket of gas. which caused the blast
IOthers say that crossed light wire
may have caused the explosion.
The tunnel was equipped with cleo
trically driven machinery for eXca-
vating.
The party of eleven workmen who
were caught by the explosion entered
the tunnel at 8 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 in
timation of the disaster came when
william Dolan, lock tender in the air
chambe at the entrance to the tunnei,
heard the dull boom of an explosion.
This was about $3.50 p. III. Dolan was
thrown against the door of the air
cham Der leading into the tunnel. THIS
door was jammed by the blast and
deadly fumes poured out of the tun-
mel, almost overcoming Dolan. lie
finally managed to close 1t 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.
Foreman John Johnson summoned
volunteers and led the first rescue
party of volunteers down the elevator
and into the tunnel. One hundred
and fifty feet from the bottom Of the
shaft they began to stumble. crumple
and fall. overcome by fumes. DOlan
who had resumed his post in the all
chamber rushed after them. He saw
a flash of light in the darkness. II
proved to be JohnsOn's flashlight
which he still grasped where he had
fallen, Dolan dragged him back to the
bottom of the elevator and went back
Almost dead himself he dragged
Peter McKenna to safety. Then h'
collapsed. Other from the crib took
the three up the elevator and tney
were placed aboard boats which haC
been attracted from shore by rockets
Believed Gas Eliminated.
II was two hours later that Van
DuZen. who had been summoned from
his home. organized the second rescue
party on shore and went to the crib
With his men he descended into the
tunnel. His men found Michael keogf
of the first rescue party still alive and
dragged him out. They went in again
only to suffer the same fate which hat
befallen the first party. Finally foul
Of them managed to staggGr back tC
safety. The others did not come out
until the third rescue party was or
ganized and went after them. 1t was
then that Van DuZen was brought out
1t became known today that WORK
i'm the tunnel had been suspended thr, {
days ago because gas was found. The
men sent into the tunnel last night
went 70 work believing the gas had
been eliminated.
"Iye should never have gone into