Year: 1870

Three Men SufocaIed to Denth-Narrow Es-
cape of Others-HerOic Conduct Of sur
vfvOrs.


The Pittsburg Commercial OF last evening says:-
One OF the most awful calamties that we have had
TO record for long time occurred last evening at
about O'Clock, in Ormsby borough, short distance
above the Birmingham car station. BY this calamity
three men lost their lives almost instantly, ana two
others who endeavored to save them barely escaped
paying the forfeit of their own lives for their hero
ism. The calamity took place on the premises OF
on Carson street. Ormsby borough, between fhmseR
and McClurg streets, about square beyond the
some time been engaged in digging well to be used
as vault, which he completed yesterday.


The new vault is contiguous to one that has been
in use for many years, and separated therefrom
some eighteen inches. MIR. Wilhelm little after 6
O'clock descended by ladder to the bottom of the
well for the purpose of making an opening between
it and the old well adjoining. 1t appears that he
arrived in safety at the bottom of the WELL crow-bar
tween the wells, when the poisonous gas from
the old well rushed through the aperture and
forced Mr Wilhelm TO hurry up @ the ladder
had ascended about halfway up the ladder, when
the gas had such an effect upon him that he lost his
power and fell back to the bottom. Matthias, Jr.,
the son. at the top Of the well, and soon as
he his father fall from the ladder he descended
in order to rescue him. The moment he reached
the same place the ladder from which his father
had tallen-about eight feet from the bottom OF the
vault-he seemed to lose all physical power, and fell
headong into the reekiDg abyss OF death below.


BY this time large number OF people had
gathered to the spot attracted by the cries of the





James Mooney, who kept saloon on the opposite
side of The street. started down the ladder to rescue
the two Wihelms and he in turn was suffocated
and fell from the ladder and Of course lost his life.
AS the crowd increased every one seemed anxious
TO rescue those who were in the deadly vault below.
Among those who volunteered to descend
to the relief OF the dying men was Richard
Mackey. He started, down the ladder, with


rope tied about his body, which was held by strong
hands at the mouth of the well. He had scarcely
reached the middle Of the excavation when a sud-
den jerk at the rope gave those at the top the nfOI
nation that he too was being suffocated. He was
promptly pulled to the surface alive, although life
at first was seemingly extinct, and 1t was almost
hour before he restored to consciousness. In
effectng his rescue he received very serious wound
in the right thigh, as well as several very severe
wounds In the back by the fall.


The next attempt was made by Patrick Harvey,
an old man who lived in the family OF Mooney, the
saloon keeper, he also taking the precauon hav-
ing rope tied around his waist, descended into the
gulf OF death, and was drawn up, fortunately in
time to save life-but only in time.


The bodies OF the dead were drawn out OF the
vault at about haf-past O'Clock last night with
pared Tor interment, and removed to their respec-
tive homes.


When The two Wihelms were brought to the sur
face with the graphing irons the father was casped
in the arms OF the son.


The scene at the time OF the accident was one to
which no description can do justice. The crowd OF
anxious neighbors and friends stood helpless and
were absolutely distracted by their grief, and rent
the air with their shrieks and groans No words
can sufficiently praise the noble heroism OF the
younger Wilhelm and Mooney who, gave their lives
so generously, and Harvey and Mackey, who with
equal generosity offered theirs