REMARKABLE.

Taihape Daily Times, 21 December 1917, Page 2

REMARKABLE.

IMPRISONED IN A BOILER. New York, September 2u. The most remarkable accident and escape of their kind in the history of New York took place in the sub-cellar of the Union League Club, where, in the presence of scores of prominent clubmen, Mr John Garvey, a mechanic, was imprisoned in a large boiler, and was only rescued naked, in uramatic circumstances, after two hours’ strenuous exertions on the part of poice, firemen, engineers, and others. The boiler is thirty feet long, and, although six feet in diameter, there is little free space in the Interior owing to the presence of the pipes. Garvey entered the boiler through on ob-' long “manhole” in the centre to clean it, and at nine o’clock had finished. When he tried to get out the way he had gone in, however he stuck fast.

The more he struggled to force himself through the hTiTe the tighter he became wedged, and only a short time elapsed before his lips were badly lacerated and swollen. Soon he was in pain, and began to call for help. He was heard by Mr Charles Krumhouse, the second engineer, "who instructed Garvey to remove his clothing. He was able to remove some of his clothes, and the rest were cut off. Then the engineer brought a large can of crude oil, and poured it over the naked man. Several other employees caught hold of Garvey, and all pulled at once. In vain. There was no getting the man through the hole. His body was too swollen. The club’s manager, 'Mr John A. Rogers, was now sent for. With him came several members of the club and half a dozen guests, including Lieutenant W. L. Rich, jun., of the Ordnance Department, Washington; and Colonel Charles Lawlor, of the Navy League. All offered suggestions, but none v-ere practicable. Mr Rogers finally called headquarters and explained the situation. Police headquarters called up fire headquarters, and Chief Kenlon ordered the rescue squad to the clubhouse Then he jumped into his motor car and went there to superintend in person.

T-he rescue squad took with it its gas blower, warranted to cut through any piece of steel. It was a uevTSe of this nature which was used to liberate a man behind steel-barred doors at the great Equitable fire. Garvey was told to crawl to one end of the boiler, a feat he was able to do after half a dozen men had squeezed him back. Then the squad got to work with the gas. It was not long, however, before Garvey began to shout that it was becoming too hot for him. He was told that, he would not be burned alive and to hold out. At ten o’clock three inches of vcfc steel at the edge of th 6 manhole eaau been eaten away, but the steel surrounding the hole was red hot, and there seemed no chance of getting Garvey out for several hours. Then someone thought of cooling the boiler with water.

This was attempted, but the imprisoned man howled that fSe" steam was getting to him, and he was being boiled alive.

Ashes and sand were accordingly brought and after this mixture had been damped and banked round the boiler Garvey was at last taken from his prison. He was covered with oil, cut in a dozen places and suffering from shock.

The liberated man, after a re~st, was dressed and taken home_ The fire departments doctir, who examined him, expressed the opinion that in a few days he would be little the worse for his adventure.