Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-20
L CAUGHT IN SHAFT.
BY FLOOD RESCUED.
Firemen Pump Waters From
Tunnel and Remove Trapped
Men.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
/. MILWAUKEE, Wis, July 2O.-Eleven
workman who faced possible death
when water flooded a 100-foot COM
pleted section OF a heating tunnel were
rescued shortly before last midnight by
members of the Milwaukee Fire De-
partment. They we're brought to the
surface six hours after they were
| trapped.
The men were none the worse for
their experience. all having succeeded
in getting into two compression cham
bers when the water started pouring in.
All were held in hospital today, how
ever, for observation.
A heavy doWnpour of rain shortly be-
fore o'clock last night taxed sewers.
and water flowed down hillside streets
to the tunnel.
A small dixie around the mouth of the
tunnel crumbled away. ana the water
poured in Fire Department bumpers
raced to the scene, and six hose lines
were quickly lowered into the shaft.
For almost six hours the bumpers were
operated at top speed, drawing thou
sands of gallons of water to the sur
| face. The tunnel Is feet in diameter
and is being constructed to house
steam pipes and electric cables between
Milwaukee's new $l0,000,000 court
house and plant situated on the Mil
waukee River
When the water had been lowered
sufficiently, Capt. Paul Mueller and Bat
talon Chief Thomas Wirth went down
into the tunnel Wading in water and
muck up to their waists. they explored
the tunnel and learned that all the men
had gotten into the compression cham
bers. A little later tappings on the
steel doors of the chambers gave word
that the men were alive.
The pumping continued until all but
foot of water had been drawn out
Then Capt. Mueller and Wirth signaled
the men beyond the west door to I'M
| lock it and come out. Five men APP
peared. Six men were found in the
other chamber.
! Cheers came from the thousands who
milled about the mouth of the shaft as
| the men were brought to the surface.
In the crowd we're many relatives and
friends of the imprisoned men, who
spent anxious hours waiting to know
their fate Ambulances took the men
to Emergency Hospital. They said they
continued their work until the six cars
in the compression chambers had been
+ filled with dirt. Then, they said. they
smoked and joked. although they kept
wondering how long 1t would be before
t1eV WOulQ De rescued. OOIllc VI IllCLI
thought it would be several days, they
said.
Joseph Raikovich. 26, hoist operator,
told of what transpired in the tunnel.
II saw the water coming" said Raj
kovich. 1T struck me with such force
that it took my breath away. 1 tried
to start the hoist up. but it wouldn't
work. Then 1 yelled to the other men
and started to climb the cable and
hoist frame. couldn't make it and
ran to one of the safety chambers just
as the others were closing the door"
Raikovich took refuge in the cham
Der where five of his fellow workmen
had preceded him. They quickly sealed
the chamber and paused for few min
ues. listening to the water as 1t gushed
down the shaft.
I'VE decided after a while" Raiko-
yich continued, that we were safe for
the time being. There were several I'M
/ loaded dump cars there, so We got busy
and filled them with dirt When that
was finished we didn't have anything
else to do but wait"