The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-25

, crews rushed 10 the crlo anu VI sdiAi1ou
the remaining workers into rescLe
narty in an effort to reach the sixteen
imnrisoned men. No headway could
be made on account of the gas.
superintendent Leads Rescuers.
Finally Van Duzen arrived and, with
ten picked men, started into the tun-
mel They got through the air lock
and rescued Michael Keough, one of
the first party of rescuers, but the
van Duzen party was overcome by the
gas and the rescue temporarily was
abandoned. Michael Gallagher and
second rescue party. took Keough to
fhe crib shaft where he was partly re-
vfved. When the elevator car descend
ed Keough temporarily unbalanced by
the car and was injured ne was
rushed to hospital.
A third rescue party was organized
in an effort to reach some or the van
Duzen party, Thomas c. Clancy step
son of Van Duzen, taking the lead.
Tbev reached the air lock and through
the bullseye could see four men of the
Van Duzen party lying inside BY
smashing the glass. Clancy and the
others, although partly overcome ny
the poisonous gas, managed TO dras
ont three men. When they got them
TO the surface the men were apparent
Iv dead Strenuous efforts were made
to revive them
Further efforts will be made today
to rescue the trapped men In the tun-
mel. most of whom it is believed are
dead A general call for gas helmets
has been sent out and with these 1t Is
expected the rescuers will be able to
get through the gas to the men.
Two men also were overcome by
fumes who did not go into the tunnel
Had No Pulmotors or Helmets
A third rescue party entered the
o. n'N
and brougt out alive Gustov c. Van
Duzen, superintendent of waterworks
construction, who had headed the sec
ond relief force. Van Duzen may die
from his experiences. one body was
also brought out by the third rescue
party This was a member of the sec
ond rescue crew. 1t had been supposed
that Van Duzen was dead
The tragic fate of the rescuers in
the first and second instances was
due to the fact that they worked with
out oxygen helmets which were I'M
availa BILE. OF those rescued who af-
terward died, no pulmotors were at
hand for use in attempting to resusci-
tate them. This lack of rescue ap
paratus was roundly condemned by
the rescuers and Mayor Harry L.
Davis today today promised to con-
duct a rigid investigation into this
shortcoming as we'll as into the ca
tastrophe itself. The third rescue
party was equipped with helmets
which had been assembled but nearly
eleven hours elapsed 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 pick or possibly gas COL
lected in the tunnel and become ig-
nited by an electric spark.
The tunnel was equipped with cleo
trically driven machinery for excavat-
ing. a.-.s- e.
Lock Tender Hears Dull Boom
The party of eleven workmen who
were caught by the explosion entered
the tunnel at o'clock last night The
work has been carried on in three
! shirts, this force was in charge of
Harry Volkes as shift boss First in
timation of the disaster came when
William j. Dolan. lock tender in the
air chamber at the entrance to the
tunnel, heard the dull boom of an ex-
plos1on- This was about $3.50 D. m.
Dolan was thrown against the door
reading from the airchamber into the
tunnel. This door was jammed by the
hlast and deadly fumes poured out of
tne tunnel, almost overcoming DoIan
tie tlnally managed to close it and
then releasing the high pressure from
the a1rchamber he opened the door
leading to the crib above, giving the
alarm to men at the surface of the
lake.
Superintendent John johnson sum-
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