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52
prominent among which was a fluid containing 17 per cent.
of sulphuretted hydrogen, were conveyed along this channel.
A workman, engaged in completing the fittings of this open
tank, was observed by his mates, who were standing hard
by, to sink down apparently affected by some sudden
seizure. An employe immediately descended to render
assistance, and after him a second and a third ; but no
sooner did they enter the tank than they in like manner
fell. The Master of the Works, at a loss to understand
what was going on, himself descended and immediately
became unconscious. Nor was he the last victim in this
strange catastrophe. Others following his example rushed
to the rescue. When ultimately the gravity of the situation
was fully realized, and effective assistance had been obtained,
the men were removed from the tank. Of those who
entered four were taken out unconscious, but alive, the
remaining six were dead. This remarkable example of
poisoning in a tank open to the air demonstrates the futility
of relying upon ventilation, even of the most advanced
kind, to mitigate the fatal effects of sulphuretted hydrogen
when this gas appears in quantity in a covered sewer.
HOW CAME THE GAS INTO THE SEWER?
The question now remaining for consideration is the
source of the sulphuretted hydrogen which fouled the sewer
between three and four o'clock on the afternoon of May 4th.
Several points connected with the evidence of Ryder, the
appearance of the dead men, and the position in which
their bodies were found, materially assist in this part of the
investigation. When the bodies of Baker and Garrod were
examined after death, each of them exhibited large contused
wounds on their foreheads. They were such as might
have been inflicted by rough contact with the brickwork