Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1918-06-17
BOARD REPORTS ON
TUNNEL 8 ACCIDENT

The board OF inquiry, which was
convened to investigate the cause
and responsibility OF the accident at
Tunnel .. in which Z. N. Petit was
killed. was composed OF superinten'
dent Burkhalter. Division Engineer
Luil. Roundhouse Foreman Nombal-
ais, OF the s. p. company. and +. G.
Harris and James Martin. They re-
port as follows
This board finds that timbers In
section IA OF Tunnel .. length s,2o5
feet. are being renewed. and at the
same time the cross-sectlon OF the
tunnel Is being enlarged and new
timbers put In according to present
standard. Three bents OF new work
was put in last fall by bridge and
building gang No. 22. Foreman L. n.
Petit, following which gang vas
taken to other Jobs OF more import.
ance. On May 8. 1918, the same
foreman and gang were returned to
Tunnel Q and made ordinary repairs
In various parts OF the tunnel ap TO
few days ago, when the continu-
ance of the work was undertaken.
Bent No. 22, Immediately west OF the
three bents OF new work. was to be
replaced. and side walls, consisting
OF slate and serpentlne, had to be ex-
eavated sufficiently to provide room
for the new posts and tagging, small
shots OF not more than two sticks OF
powder to each hole being used to
loosen material on the sides, no
shooting being done overhead. Each
post OF the old bent was held out
from the side walls by a shore about
ten feet above track and the arch
was under local pressure from the
weight OF loose material above II
which had not been excavated. Fore
man E. n. Petit, Carpenters Ralph
Girard, Frank Sexton. Frank Cheno-
weth and e. s. Lewman. were on
staging. Foreman, with the idea OF
setting in the new post. instructed
Carpenter Frank Sexton to knock out
the shore from behind the right post.
Sexton hit the shore several blows,
but II was tight and did not move.
and Foreman Petit told him to chop
1t out, which he undertook to do, but
at the first blow OF the ak the shore
fell out, which resulted in the arch
collapslng. The tlmbers, tagging,
rock and earth fell, crushing the
staging and covering Foreman Petit
and injuring others. About min
ute later, additional rock and earth
fell, further injuring Chenowith and
also injuring Fred Sexton. who were
endeavorlng to rescue Foreman Pet
tit, the total amount of earth and
rock falling being about five tons.
Casualties as follows:
Foreman E. N. Petit, almost in
stantly killed.
Carpenter Frank Chenoweth, hip
and leg bruised and possible internal
injuries
Carpenter e. s. Lewman, leg
bruised.
Carpenter Fred Sexton, end Of left
thumb mashed, necessitating ampu-
tation at base OF nail.
Carpenter Ralph Girard, slight
bruise OF thumb and elbow.
Foreman Petit had about 20 years
experience in bridge and building
work, several years Of which we're
spent in tunnel work. He has been
foreman OF gauge %, engaged ex-
cluslvely in tunnel work, since Feb
ruary, 1917, and had previous exper-
ience as foreman Of tunnel work on
other gangs. He was considered
thoroughly competent and reliable
man. Carpenter Frank Sexton has
been working for about 16 years,
about half Of the time on tunnel
work.
On June s, few days before new
work was started, Supervisor Of
Bridges and Buildings G. W. Smith,
visited Tunnel Q and spent about
three hours with Foreman Petit. ex-
planning fully to him how the work