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Story
May 23, 1903
The Daily Sentinel
Grand Junction, Mesa County, Colorado
What is this article about?
Henry Smith, a driller on the Southern railroad, drowned in a four-inch deep pool after being overcome by powder smoke in the Santa Susana tunnel near Santa Barbara on May 21. Others escaped with narrow saves when a dynamite blast failed to fully open the tunnel.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
DROWNED IN FOUR INCHES.
Santa Barbara, May 21.—Because of the eagerness to be the first through the Santa Susana tunnel headway on the Southern railroad, which had just been blasted out, completing the opening from either end, Henry Smith, one of the drillers employed, is dead. Several others had very narrow escapes.
The men were overcome by powder smoke and fell unconscious. Smith fell face downward in a pool of water about four inches deep and was drowned. The others were carried from the tunnel and revived.
It was believed that the blast would make the tunnel complete, allowing air to pass through and carry away the smoke, but the charge of dynamite was not heavy enough and as a result only a small opening was made.
Santa Barbara, May 21.—Because of the eagerness to be the first through the Santa Susana tunnel headway on the Southern railroad, which had just been blasted out, completing the opening from either end, Henry Smith, one of the drillers employed, is dead. Several others had very narrow escapes.
The men were overcome by powder smoke and fell unconscious. Smith fell face downward in a pool of water about four inches deep and was drowned. The others were carried from the tunnel and revived.
It was believed that the blast would make the tunnel complete, allowing air to pass through and carry away the smoke, but the charge of dynamite was not heavy enough and as a result only a small opening was made.
What sub-type of article is it?
Disaster
Extraordinary Event
Tragedy
What themes does it cover?
Catastrophe
Misfortune
Tragedy
What keywords are associated?
Tunnel Accident
Drowning
Powder Smoke
Dynamite Blast
Railroad Construction
What entities or persons were involved?
Henry Smith
Where did it happen?
Santa Susana Tunnel, Santa Barbara
Story Details
Key Persons
Henry Smith
Location
Santa Susana Tunnel, Santa Barbara
Event Date
May 21
Story Details
Workers rushed to complete the Santa Susana tunnel with a dynamite blast, but insufficient charge left a small opening, trapping powder smoke. Henry Smith fell unconscious into four inches of water and drowned; others were revived after removal.