The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-08-09
4ifeguards John Beard and Paul Berg Are
Heroes in Near Tragedy at the
Middle Street Bridge.
HREE OVERCOME BY GAS FUMES
harles Sargis and Tony LOuko City Employees, Are
Dragged Out of Pit Unconscious One Res
cuer Also Being Overcome.

threatened the workmen, companions
sought to rescue them by angling for
them with rope.
John Beard, life-saver, heard the
commotion and ran to the side of the
manhole. He heard someone murmur
something about the need of gas
mask. "Gas mask-we. can't wait for
that!" he said as he jumped into the
pit. "Give me the rope" Closebehind
him came Paul Berg, another member
of the coast guard crew.
Beard in the pit found both Sargis
and Louko overcome by the gas. He
worked frantically to tie the rope
around their feet before he too should
be overcome by the fumes. Finally
with the aid of his companion the task
was done and the two workmen were
lifted into the air and to safety.
Rescuer Then Rescued
Beard, having saved the lives of the
two workmen, staggered back to the
ladder falling from exhaustion as he
reached it. He also had to be lifted
from the pit. Berg was able to rescue
himself having not been in the pit
quite as long as his companion.
At the top of the manhole, Captain
William McGaw of the coast guard
station, Supt. Lew Heller and others
worked to carry the men to safety.
Supt. Heller was on the ladder and
was himself badly affected by the
fumes from the pit
Meanwhile someone had notified the
police department and the ambulance
with gas masks and a pulm otor were
hurried to the scene. Patrolmen Tony
Boardmen, Ernest Radatz, Paul Well
man and Barney McGivern manned the
ambulance and aided in the rescue.
Give Oxygen to One.
The ambulance arrived just in time
to give oxygen to Charles Sargis, who
fumes Sargis did not revive consci-
BUSINESS for several minutes and then
only after oxygen had been given to
him. Louko revived shortly after be-
ing taken from the pit and Beard lost
consciousness only for moment.
Everything Got Black"
The men were not in the manhole
more than five minutes in all, this
showing had deadly must have been
the effect of the gas.
II don't know what happened" said
Sargis after he had been revived. 81
had just stepped into the pit when
smelled gas. l yelled to Tony and
started back when everything went
black"
The two workmen clutched each
other as they fell. Louko was badly
scratched and bruised by the fall.
Beard, the life-saver who jumped
into the gas-flled pit to rescue the
men, stated that he would have been
able to bring them to the air more
quickly had not one of Sargis' feet got
caught in the bottom of the ladder.
BY the time Beard had fastened the
rope around the man and extricated
his foot, he himself was almost over
come by the gas.
Seek Source of Gas.
An investigation was started imme-
diately to find the cause of the near
tragedy. Officials stated that there
was no sewer to account for the gas
as sewer gas and that it must have
come from the damp condition of the
ground surrounding the bridge. There
had been no gas in the pit at other
times when the men had been sent to
close off the water and for that reason
no precautions had been taken when
the men were sent into the manhole.
Sargis and Louko were so seriously
affected that they were taken to their
homes as soon as they, had been re-
vived.
TITS all in the days work." com
mented Beard and Berg as they re-
turned to the nearby coast guard sta
ton. Capt. McGaw praised the two
members of the crew for their quick
action in rescuing the two workmen
from death.