On a sweltering Monday evening in 1916, the tranquility of Lake Erie was shattered by the urgent blasts of whistles echoing from the shore. This ominous signal marked the beginning of a harrowing night that would test the courage of many and forever etch a story of heroism into Cleveland’s history.
The Waterworks Tunnel #5 disaster was not an isolated incident but the culmination of years of risky underground construction in Cleveland. As the city’s population surged, so did the demand for clean water, leading to the development of increasingly complex tunnel systems beneath Lake Erie.
The Engineering Marvel and Its Perils
The tunnel system, including the ill-fated Tunnel #5, was a marvel of early 20th-century engineering. Stretching four miles from shore, the tunnel was constructed using interlocking concrete blocks and encased in a protective steel shaft. Above it lay a formidable barrier of earth and water, making the working conditions both challenging and hazardous.
The men who worked on these tunnels, known as sandhogs lived and worked in cramped quarters on an island-like crib. Their days were governed by a strict routine of work, sleep, and limited recreation. Communication with the outside world was scarce, and during winter, they were virtually cut off from land.
The Fracture and the Foreshadowing
On July 22, 1916, a sandhog discovered a worrying crack in the tunnel wall. The sound of rushing gas sent shivers down the spines of the workers. Despite the ominous signs, work continued. Later that day, worker Patrick Delaney quit, famously remarking, “There was enough gas in the tunnel to light the city of Cleveland.“
By the following morning, the situation had deteriorated. The next shift refused to enter the tunnel, and Cleveland Water Commissioner Charles P. Jaeger ordered a halt to all work until air samples could be analyzed. However, a critical miscommunication occurred when Construction Superintendent Gus Van Dusen failed to relay Jaeger’s order to the workers.
The Tragic Descent and the Explosion
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Samuel Vokes gathered his 11-man crew for their fateful descent into the tunnel. Among them were immigrants from England, Ireland, Finland, and Germany, each with their own stories and families waiting on shore. At 8 p.m., they entered the elevator cage, unaware of the tragedy that awaited them.
More than an hour later, a catastrophic explosion ripped through the tunnel, claiming the lives of Vokes and his entire crew. The force of the blast was so immense that it propelled William Dolan, the airlock controller, 20 feet across the chamber. Despite his injuries, Dolan sprang into action, adjusting the pressure to allow rescuers access to the tunnel.
The Heroic Rescues and Garrett Morgan’s Innovation
The initial rescue attempts were met with disaster as the rescuers themselves succumbed to the toxic gases. It was not until Thomas Clancy, Van Dusen’s stepson, arrived with his friend James Keating that a breakthrough occurred. Clancy’s determination and bravery led to the rescue of two survivors and the retrieval of a body.
However, the turning point came when patrolman John Chafin recalled seeing a demonstration of Garrett Morgan’s Safety Hood. Morgan, the son of formerly enslaved parents, had invented the device to protect workers from dangerous fumes in the clothing industry. Equipped with the Safety Hoods, Morgan, his brother Frank, and neighbor William Roots ventured into the tunnel, rescuing two more survivors.
The Aftermath and Legacy
The recovery efforts continued for over a month, with Garrett Morgan playing a pivotal role in retrieving the bodies of the victims. In total, 20 men lost their lives in the disaster, including 10 rescuers. Despite the heroic efforts, investigations into the disaster yielded few answers, and no one was held accountable.
The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission awarded medals to some of the rescuers but controversially excluded the Morgan brothers. Many attributed this decision to racial prejudice, a sentiment echoed by Cleveland businessmen who honored Morgan with a diamond-studded medal. Garrett Morgan’s long-term health issues, likely stemming from his exposure to the toxic gases, went uncompensated, further fueling speculation of racial bias.
Today, Garrett Morgan’s heroism is celebrated in books, films, and the naming of the Garrett Morgan Water Treatment Plant in Cleveland. His invention, the Safety Hood, laid the groundwork for modern respiratory protection equipment, ensuring his legacy endures as a beacon of innovation and courage.
