New Britain herald., 1924-05-10
Many Taken To Hos- pital By Rescue Crews Who Have To Use Gas Masks To Bring Out Victims.
3,2O0 Street Car Workers Quit-COmpany to Re- sume Monday = Police Armed to Prevent Out breaks.

Pittsburgh, May 10.--Scores of per- sons were overcome by automobile exhaust fumes in the Twin Liberty tunnels through the South Hills here today. Increased traffic in the tun- nels as a consequence of strike or 3,200 street car motormen and con- ductors, caused the tubes to become choked with the gases. First air crews of the United States Bureau of Mines and the city fire department were rushed 10 the scene.
 Many sent to Hospitals When the rescue men reached the tubes they donned oxygen helmets and went in The tunnels were closed to all traffic and soon the reseuers were busy carrying out men and women who had collapsed. They were given first aid treatment. and a num- Der reported in serious condition were sent 10 hospitals.
 Main Gateway to City The tunnels form the main gateway ! into the city from five thicky popu- lated suburbs. With the street cars | tied up, the tubes were crowded to capacity this morning, hundreds of motorists using this inlet to Pittsburgh from beyond the South Hills. Shortly after a. m. a traffic jam tied up many machines in the tubes. The drivers, it is said. failed to shut | off their motors and soon the tunnels were clouded with fumes and virtually every oecupant of the stalled machines was affected.
 Opened Few Months Ago
 When the tunnels were thrown open 10 the public several months ago 1t was discovered that airshafts, sunk from Mount Washington were insufii- cient to carry off the deadly gases. | Bureau of mines men conducted ex- periments and found that persons passing through the tubes affected by carbon, poisoning. The tunnels, they said. were safe as long as motorists kept moving.
 The Allegheny county commissions CTS, when advised of today's accident, ordered the tunnels closed. The exact number Of persons over- come in the tubes was not known. but more than score were sent to hos | pitals for treatment.
 Prepare for Fight After receipt Of a letter from ofii- cials of the railways company in which Mayor Magee Was informed that the | company looked to the city 10 protect its property during the strike the mayor addressed council. urging that pending ordinances for the use of 150 tear gas maces, 50 riot guns, 100 grenades and 10 tear gas tanks, be passed and the equipment purchased immediately. He also asked that council provide automobiles for the rapid transportation Of police from one section of the city 10 another.
 Jam is Complete
 Tens of thousands of Pittsburgh and suburban residents moved to their work in vehicles of every conceivable variety. Thousands of others were forced to walk.
 | The traffic jam in the downtown section began at daybreak. although every available traffic officer was on duty long lines of motor cars and other vehicles moves at snail-pace. Win Resume Monday.
 The Pittsburgh Railways company will resume street car service here on ! Monday morning. using men from other cities 10 replace 3 200 striking motormen and conductors. 1t was offi- ciaIIy announced today. More than 500 out of town men are available 10 man the cars it was said, and others will be brought in later.
 Deadlock Insuea
 Mayor William A. Magee who acted as mediator between the carmen and ioniciais Of the railways company in the last two weeks remained in his office until midnight last night in case of change Of attitude by either the trolley workers or the company heads. Both sides have agreed upon larbifration but are dcadioeked over the question of hos and what 10 ar bitraie.
 No statement waS fofthcolnine from the railways headquarters as io whether or moi the company would eudeavor 10 operate it's lines with the employment of other men The carmen have asked an increase F = c- ..5.ta an hatfr fo 1s amf