Almost 100 years later, the question of whether 33 men had to die, drowned in a pipe at the Power Station of the Electric Tramway Company, still lingers. So too does the pain of the family members who had to watch as their brothers, sons, nephews were pulled from a pipe having obviously suffered an excruciating death. Yes, the pain of those family members lingers despite their own deaths. Such is the nature of tragedy.

Published June 28, 1904

Fearful Catastrophe At Bog Walk

Drowning Men Fight For Life

Sudden Rush of Water Causes Panic

33 Able-Bodied Men Drowned In Water-Pipe

No Accurate Information as To Cause Of The Disaster

An appalling catastrophe occurred on the morning of June 27, 1904, at the Power Station of the Electric Tramway Company about two miles from Bog Walk. A gang of 60 odd men, under the superintendence of Mr. Douparrouzel, the electrical expert of the Tramway Company and Mr Broderick, one of their officials, was engaged in cleaning the huge eight-foot pipe which leads from the reservoir on the Rio Cobre to the Electric Power Station. At a point about 15 yards from the station, the pipe runs on a slightly upward grade, curving sharply for some seven or eight feet, and continuing on the downgrade into the power station. From what can be learned, it spears that there was a slight accumulation of sand where the pipe started its upward course, and men were engaged in scraping the flakes of rust from the sides and top and clearing out the sand, from one o’clock in the morning. The stories vary considerably as to what actually happened; some claim that the water came down in a rush, others state that its rise was gradual and gentle. At any rate, the Superintendent, Mr Douparrouzel, noticing that there was something wrong, called to the men to get out of the pipe as quickly as possible. They were not far from a manhole, two feet eight inches in diameter, and he and five others, in turn, made their escape. What then happened is a matter of conjecture, and the facts can never be verified. It is certain that three men tried to get through a two feet eight-inch manhole at one time and became jammed. It is evident the unfortunate victims were panic-stricken and absolutely insane with terror. The condition of the bodies which were afterwards recovered shows that the poor fellows must have fought with each other like wild beasts in their efforts to escape. Clothes were torn from their bodies, their faces and hands were cut and mutilated and all bore traces of the terrible struggle which had occurred. Apparently, the bodies must have formed a compact mass – a living dam – which prevented the passage of the water. Thirty-three men were penned up in this narrow space, trampling upon each other and literally tearing one another to pieces. The horrors of the situation cannot be exaggerated, and can scarcely be imagined. And of these thirty-three not a soul escaped – not a man is left alive to tell the tale.

Such a catastrophe is, we believe, without precedent in the annals of Jamaica.

Kingston Learns The Sad Tidings

The stoppage of the Electric Car system in Kingston yesterday morning was a notification to the general public that something untoward had occurred at the Car Company’s works. At first, this was deemed to be due to some local cause which would be remedied in the course of a short time, but after a while, suburbanites, becoming wearied with the long delay, started for town, some being fortunate enough to obtain buses, others in waggonettes and buggies sent out from the different stables and livery stables, while the great majority were obliged to walk.

Between 7 and 8 o’clock in the morning, the wildest rumours began to circulate of the frightful accident at Bog Walk and in a very short time practically the whole city was on the qui vive for information. The car office and station, the Railway, the newspaper offices and every possible place where there was any likelihood of obtaining news, were filled with anxious enquirers asking for details of the terrible calamity which was reported to have occurred at Bog Walk. But nothing definite could be learned at the early hour. Gradually a report gained currency that some 80 men working in the huge cast-iron pipe which carries water from the reservoir to the Power Station at Bog Walk had, through the accidental opening of a valve been washed into the turbines and drowned. All kinds of stories prevailed as to the number of persons who actually lost their lives and the city was in a state of the greatest excitement whilst awaiting details.

An enquiry at the Police Station confirmed the rumours as to the nature of the accident, but beyond the fact that there had been an awful loss of life, no news was forthcoming. It was known that police assistance has been asked for and a squad of 12 men under Inspector Tremlett was followed to the Railway Station by a large crowd of people. Then it was stated that an order had been sent to Messrs Alexander Berry and Son for coffins, and on enquiry at the store, the first information of the actual number of lives lost was obtained. It was learnt that 33 coffins had been ordered and were to be sent out to Bog Walk by a special train at 11.50.

The First News

A little later, a Gleaner representative met Dr Hammond, an American Evangelist who has for some time been conducting services at a church that he has recently built in Bog Walk. The doctor stated that at 4.15 yesterday morning he was awakened and informed that an accident had occurred at Bog Walk Power House and his presence was earnestly requested. He hurried into his clothes and was on the spot in fifteen minutes. It was quite dark when he arrived on the spot and the scene was one he never would forget the longest day he lived. There was a large crowd of persons present; men, women and children lying on the ground rolling over, clutching handfuls of grass, stones and earth, and screaming aloud in the last extremities of mental agony, the majority were absolutely overcome with grief and in so hysterical and excitable a condition that he could not gain any information beyond the fact that some thirty or forty people had been drowned. Several people were lying on the ground in a state of exhaustion and coma from the violence of their anguish and grief and as the day dawned, it broke upon the most ghastly and weird scene that had ever been witnessed in that peaceful vicinity.

Dr Hammond eventually learned that the water had rushed in upon a gang of men working cleaning the pipe and that thirty-three people had lost their lives. He was called to Kingston on business and when getting into the train was informed that another body was found and seventeen men were still missing. Later information showed that the missing men had turned up, having come out at a manhole much nearer to the damn.

A large number of persons, the majority of them stimulated only by morbid curiosity gathered along the approaches to the railway station yesterday afternoon. A rumour had somehow spread in the city that several of the bodies of the unfortunate men who had lost their lives in the Bog Walk disaster, would be brought to the city at 3.15 p.m. by special train.

A Gleaner representative saw Mr Squire, the Traffic Superintendent of the Railway, who stated that there would be no train from Bog Walk at that hour; that no bodies were being brought over to Kingston, and finally that none of the people who had perished were natives of this parish.

At Bog Walk

During the still small hours of yesterday morning when most people were enjoying a quiet rest, a terrible tragedy was being enacted within the enclosure of the big iron pipes leading the water from the damn to the Car Company’s Power House at Bog Walk – a tragedy most gruesome in all its details, which resulted in the death of thirty-three able-bodied men, whose bodies bore testimony to the terrible fight there must have been for life. Sixty-one men went down into the pipes at one o’clock a.m. and only twenty-eight came out alive. The news of the disaster soon became known around, and by daylight a crowd began to gather which increased as the day wore on, people coming from within a radius of ten miles to the scene.

Mr Lewis, the manager of the Company, who was on the spot, hurried to Spanish Town to summon Doctors Peck and Neish, and to report the matter to the police.

At a quarter to six, the doctors were on the spot, but even if their services had been required to render aid there would have been little to do as the grief-stricken crowd in one dense mass herded themselves in a solid phalanx along the road and abandoned themselves to their anguish.

As body after body was handed up, the piercing shrieks of the relatives and friends of the deceased echoed and reverberated among the rocks in one long swell that was painful to hear.

The Doctors, however, succeeded in making their way into the place, and at once set about having the bodies properly laid out.

The ground floor of the Superintendent’s house opposite the road was prepared to receive them, and one by one the dead bodies were laid out until the room was full.

Dr McPhall was sent for and was not long in coming. Mr E.A.H. Haggart, the Attorney for the Company, and Mr Milholland (of Messers. Parquharson and Milholland) the Solicitors of the Company were also among the early arrivals, and by a quarter to seven o’clock, His Honour Mr J.V. Leach, Coroner for the parish, along with Mr Aubrey Deleon, Deputy Clerk of the Courts, went over by buggy from Spanish Town.

The morning dawned cloudily and the sky soon became overcast and black – a fitting day to the scene. Everyone looked gloomy and cast down and the General Manager of the Company and Mr Douparrouzel, the chief electrician were overwrought by the disaster. The crowd became calmer as they seemed to realize the position, and the Hon. E.G. Osborne Smith, member of the Legislative Council for the parish, was busy going among the people sympathizing with them and advising them to be calm. Rev. Mr Dillon also went among and spoke to them quietly, after which they settled down to wait.

The river which was pretty full of water, flowed murmuringly along, heedless of the grief which it had that morning brought to many a heart, and many a woebegone father and heartbroken mother sat listlessly gazing into its depths as it went by.

All the men having been accounted for, the coroner proceeded to make enquiries on the spot, and the police to gather evidence. Mr Leach was untiring in his efforts to go into the matter fully and Mr Monckton, the Government electrical engineer, came down. Later on, Mr Leach telegraphed the Colonial Secretary and the Hon. V.G. Bell and Mr Gould of the General Commissioners, came over as well as Mr A.W. Farquharson and Mr Roger S. Haughton. The special train which brought down these gentlemen also brought down the coffins which were carried to the power house. The statements as to how the accident happened were most conflicting. Everyone was excited and each man had a different story to sell. One thing was certain, not a man in Mr Broderick’s gang was injured, and but for a general panic, probably not a man would have lost his life.  As it was, when Mr Douparrouzel realized the situation he called out to the men to follow him, and those that followed him got out safely in the power house.

As to how the water got in, there was quite a conflict of opinion. The water is shut off at twelve o’clock on Sunday nights after all traffic has ceased, for the purpose of clearing the main of silt and other matters washed into it. But the valve which would completely close the pipe is never shut, as it is said it would take some twenty-four hours to do this. The water is, however, kept out by means of a boarding up at the intake, and just a small quantity succeeds in getting in. this, it is said, accounts for the one foot of water which was in the main through which the accumulations are washed out. With a small quantity of water coming in at the intake, there can be no danger, as these outlets prevent its rising to any appreciable height. But it is said, and there apparently is no doubt about it, that an order was sent up to the intake to let in a little more water to wash out the sand. The man at the intake said one board only was removed, and that the board remained up for about ten or twenty minutes. The river was about as high when the accident occurred as it was yesterday afternoon. Mr Leach caused a board to be removed and allowed the water to flow in exactly as the man said it was; the depth was taken by the engineers present. None of them would, however, say anything as to the quantity of water which found itself into the pipes by this means.

It was also contended that the water which drowned the men was collected in the pipes and banked up by accumulations of sand, getting less thick owing to the cleaning out process which was going on, it offered less resistance and suddenly gave way. The water then rushed along and the men hearing it coming along got into a panic, and fled before it. Struggling to get through the manhole they had entered, they got jammed between the ladder, and it overtook them. Maddened by fear a desperate struggle must have ensued as some of the bodies were badly bitten and clawed when taken out. George Bedward, one of the men who escaped from the struggle, and got out alive was badly bitten on his legs. Seeing that it was hopeless he said to get through the manhole, he decided to go ahead and had to fight his way through. He succeeded in passing them and came out safely; after a terrible experience through the turbine at the power house. 

The bodies of the men who were fighting at the manhole evidently formed a damn against the inrushing water which rose against them, and as it got higher they became more exhausted and fell easy victims to its might.

Which of the two stories is the right one is hard to tell. The coroner will have to say from the evidence whether the water was let in from the intake, or whether it was the accumulated water in the pipes that was responsible for what happened.

It was pointed out that Mr Broderick’s gang which was nearer to the intake, and therefore further away from the Power House, escaped unhurt. Whilst those who were near to the Power House were killed. No one seemed able to tell the exact time Mr Broderick’s team left the pipes. Mr Broderick himself was of the opinion that the water which did the damage was water that had been penned up between him and the other gang, as he took out all his men in perfect order.

The Scene In The Afternoon

As soon as the coffins were brought up on the spot arrangements were at once begun to send away the bodies. The Car Company had ordered necessary trimmings for each coffin and they did every possible thing they could towards the relatives of the deceased. The bodies were brought out examined by the Doctors and placed in a coffin to be sent away. Then the pent-up grief of the crowd gave way. Women wailed wildly, and big men cried aloud. The sight was one that no one who was present would care to see again. Two particularly cases were that of the Cousins’ family, and the Dawkins’ family. In the former case, the father, Daniel Cousins two sons Wilmot and Samuel Cousins and a nephew Mortimer Cousins were killed and in the other, there were three brothers. All their womenfolk, were on the post, and as the coffins, one after the other came down and was placed in the wagon to be driven home for the last time, the piercing shrieks of the family were pitiful indeed.

Those Who Escaped

The names of the eight men in Mr Douparrouzel’s gang who escaped were:

Wilson

Henry Thompson

Walter Sewell

Colin McDonald

Edward Reece

Charles McIntosh

David Sewell

McDonald’s Statement

Colin McDonald speaking to a Gleaner representative said: At 1 o’clock when we commenced work there was about a foot of water in the pipe. I was working under Mr Wilson, and the men were scattered along the pipe at between four and five hundred yards from the power house. Everything went on all right for about an hour when I felt the water mounting. This continued until it reached our knee when a man named Joe Green who was with us was sent out to inspect the pipe. He returned and said everything was all right. Wilson sent him back a second time and he returned again saying that everything was correct. The water was rising slowly but surely, and he was sent back for a third time to see how things were, but he did not return and we thought it was time to leave the place. Mr Douparrouzel called out to us and then there was a rush for the manhole, I got out, and helped out nine. The water by this time rose up to the manhole and no one else came up.

Colin Reece said: We turned in to work at one o’clock and at between four and a quarter past four o’clock the accident happened. I saw the water was rising up and when it got past my knee I called out to the men away from me that the water was coming up. The manhole where we went in still had the ladder standing and as it was the closest one I ran to it. Some of us came up one at a time and I saw William Mighty catch the ladder. He missing the footing and fell, and several others fell on top of him and no one came out alive after that.

By nights fall all the bodies were sent away, and the crowd left to pour out grief at home. The officials and others who had come down to the scene all left, and the place resumed its normal quiet once more.

The Cars

The cars will resume traffic, as usual, this morning.

The Coroner’s Inquest

The police collected a vast mass of evidence on the scene yesterday and it is likely that the coroner’s inquest will be held next Monday by His Honour Mr J.V. Leach.

Mr Douparrouzel

Mr Douparrouzel came up to Kingston by the last train yesterday afternoon, from Bog Walk. He had been up all night and was completely knocked out after the exciting time that he passed through. Both Mr Lewis and himself never had a minutes rest during the whole day.

Constables For The Scene

As soon as the news was received in Kingston arrangements were made to send over constables from the headquarters to reinforce and relieve those who were on duty at the scene of the accident since morning. Inspector Strachan and Sergt. – Major Smythe had arrived on the scene from early. A squad of about 10 policemen under command of sub-Inspector Tremlett, left Kingston by the 10.15 train for Spanish Town. They remained there until 1. 2 p.m. train from Kingston was passing, when they embarked on it for Bog Walk, joining another force of about 30 men which had left Kingston for Bog Walk under Inspector Adams. These constables and Inspectors, remained in the vicinity of the Power House last night so as to be able to allay any excitement.

A Minister’s Sorrow

The Rev. J.T. Dillon, Baptist Minister at Linstead, on being interviewed by the Gleaner representative stated that he had a mission house in the district and he had learnt about half a dozen of his church members had been identified among the men who were drowned. He need hardly state that he had heard of the sad accident with great regret and he sympathized very much with the relatives of the deceased.

The General Feeling

The general feeling around the surrounding district was one of grief and great concern at the terrible disaster that happened. The consensus of opinion was that someone had blundered and the proper precautions could hardly have been taken in the control of the water from the intake. The sympathetic attitude, however, of the company’s representatives went a great way to allay any feeling which might otherwise have made itself manifest.

Hon. E.G. Osborne-Smith

The Hon. E.G. Osborne-Smith, solicitor, the representative in the Legislative Council for the parish of St. Catherine, heard of the terrible accident at the Kingston railway station yesterday morning while on his way to his office in Spanish Town. Mr Smith, as the representative of the parish, proceeded to Bog Walk immediately on arriving at Spanish Town and remained there during the entire day showing great sympathy with the people in their bereavement.

On being approached by a Gleaner representative at Bog Walk, Mr Smith said there was hardly anything that he could state about the accident. “I have come here in a sympathetic spirit more than anything else,” he remarked. “I think it is my duty that I should come here. I might mention that a man named Hamilton who is employed on my property, ‘Orange Grove,’ informed me that he has lost a son-in-law, two grandsons and another relative by this disaster. I need hardly tell you how greatly I sympathize with him and all who have lost their relatives and friends by this accident.”

List of the Dead

The following is a list of the men who were drowned ;—

Marcus Larmond of Kent Village

Samuel Hunt of Riversdale

Samuel Thomas of Shady Grove

Uriah Gyle of Jew Pen

Edward Gordon of Magazine

Theophilus Sinclair of Church Road

Alexander Graham of Princess Field

Alexander Blackburn of Princess Field

Jeremiah Taylor of Princess Field

Henry Brown of August Town

Nathaniel Collins of Bog Walk

Edward Wallen of Magazine

Daniel Cousins of Church Road

Wilmot Cousins of Church Road

Mortimer Cousins of Church Road

John Bailey of Church Road

Uriah Minot of Bog Walk Hill

Thomas Burke of Kent Village

Stephen Taylor of Kent Village

David Elliot of Kent Village

Henry Dawkins of Kent Village

Robert Dawkins of Kent Village

William Mighty of Bowerwood

Hezekiah Brown of Jew Pen

George Bailey of Church Road

William Johnston of Bowerwood

David Grant of The Swamps

Joseph Maxwell of Ewarton

Cecil Fraser of Mickelton

Emanuel Watson of Mickelton

Nathaniel Dawkins of Kent Village

Tyrell Hamilton of Church Road

All the men are strong, healthy-looking labourers, varying in age from 20 to about 50. Most of them were unmarried.

Mr E.A.H. Haggart

Mr E.A.R.H. Haggart, the Attorney in Jamaica for the West India Electric Company, was on the scene all yesterday. He worked exceedingly hard over the matter, making arrangements for the burial of the dead and things in general, and expressed his heartfelt sympathy for the relatives and acquaintances of the men who have met their death.

Mr Haggart received information of the catastrophe at about six o’clock yesterday morning, and he immediately started from his residence in St. Andrew, for Bog Walk. Arriving there in the early morning, Mr Haggart states that the scene was a most distressing one. The people had assembled in the vicinity of the Power House in great numbers, most of them weeping over the loss of a brother, or son, or father, but steps were soon taken to allay the feeling as much as possible and to make the people understand that the officials of the company had their deepest sympathy.

The first things that Mr Haggart did on arriving on the scene was to get a correct list of the names of those who were dead; and to organize a system of burying them as decently as possible, either on the premises of the deceased or at a cemetery at Linstead. The Rector of the Anglican Church at Linstead, the Rev. C.R.G. Thomas, paid a visit to the scene and was asked to grant all applications for graves in the churchyard for which the Company would pay, and Mr Haggart arranged with Mr Reece of Spanish Town to take charge of funeral arrangements so that everyone would receive a respectable burial. Coffins were ordered from Kingston at the expense of the Company and the officials of the Company also gave money to the relatives of the deceased to purchase articles of clothing for their burial. In extreme cases, where there was a great hardship – in cases, where for instance, a family had lost a father or a brother who was the only breadwinner – special allowances were made for them in cash so that there might not be any immediate destitution.

Mr Haggart states that the conduct of the people was excellent, although there was a tremendous crowd on the scene and perfect order was observed which was highly commendable, considering the great loss they had sustained.

Nothing was wrong with the works concluded Mr Haggart, and they were quite prepared to start operations, but it was the desire of the coroner that operations should be sustained until certain observations were taken and soundings made, consequently the tramway system was at a standstill yesterday.

Mr. Douparrouzel’s Statement

Mr Douparrouzel, on being asked by a Gleaner representative at Bog Walk yesterday, if he would make a statement about the matter said: “I was in the pipe with the men at the time of the accident. A certain amount of water came up. I heard it coming, and I told the men that there was a little water coming but it was not from the dam as the damn was closed. It must have been only a little accumulation of water and I told the men there was plenty of time to get out of the pipe as there was no danger. I advised them to get out one by one quickly and I would remain last as I knew there was no danger. But instead of doing as I advised them they rushed up in a panic threw their torches in the water and darkness suddenly came on and everybody was trying to come out together. I did all I could to prevent them from doing so, telling them again that there was no danger, but I could not get them to listen to me. When I saw that I could not do anything in that way, I induced the men to walk with me towards the Power House as I knew the water could not rise very high there and so eight of them followed me towards the Power House. At the same time, a man came with a light, showing us the way at the exit near to the Power house, and the eight men went out through this means. A man was at this same opening with a torch calling the other men to come on, but not one of them would take advantage of the opportunity. Gradually the water came up and it took over twenty minutes to fill the pipe, and thirty-three of the men were drowned. They were found all heaped up together. I did everything that was possible to induce them to follow my advice as there was plenty of time for them to be saved but they would not listen to me.

“The only explanation I can give for the water being in the pipe is that in washing the sand in the pipe a certain amount of sand must have gathered temporarily for a little while and allowing a certain quantity of water to settle behind. The water, after a time, must have overcome the resistance and rushed in, in a quantity sufficient to flood that part of the pipe, it shows that the quantity of water was not very great as the three last men further from the opening, came out on the opposite side.

Visit To The Scene

Several of the motormen and conductors of the West India Electric Company went over the scene of the accident yesterday. Some of them went over to Spanish Town by train which left Kingston at 1.15 and walked to Bog Walk.

Story of Survivors

Joseph Green, one of the men who was working in the pipe, gave the following statement to a Gleaner representative yesterday:- “I was working in the pipe on Saturday night and Sunday night. This morning at about a quarter past three o’clock I went up the pipe and after I went up I came back and told the “boss” that there were twp quantities of sand in the pipe and that consequently, I could not get to go up to Mr Broderick’s gang of men. The “boss” told me to try and get up, and he sent a boy with me and we tried to go. When I got to the spot the sand was covered by a body of water. The boy said to me “turn back,” and I said ‘No.’ we went on and got as far as the standpipe, and I went where Mr Broderick’s gang was, Mr. Broderick asked how was the water and I said it was very high coming up, but it was not deep, only three feet of water. Mr Broderick said it was all right up there and as I came past the pipe I heard the screaming that the people were being drowned.  I ran down the whole near to the Power House and saw the water up to the manhole and the men were drowned. After that three men came with me and got out at the same place.”

A man named George Williams, who was also working in the pipe, told one of our representatives yesterday that he had a narrow escape from sharing the same fate as the thirty-three men who were drowned. He was one of the backmen, and as he was coming through the hole another man held on to him. He managed to come out of the pipe, being pulled up by Mr Lewis.

Plenty Of Time To Be Saved

It is stated by Mr Lewis that when Mr Douparrouzel reported to him that there was some water in the pipe, Mr Lewis had time to send back men with torches to speak to the other men and get them to come up the hole towards the Power House. If the men had obeyed this order, it is said that there would have been time to save 300 men instead of 33, but they would not do as they were advised and a general panic ensued, with the result that the men were drowned, a circumstance which he regrets very much.

All the bodies were recovered. Men were sent right up the line and everybody was recovered.

After the accident had occurred Mr Lewis immediately proceeded to Spanish Town and reported the matter there to the police and other authorities. He did all that was possible to facilitate matters and worked hard all yesterday. Mr Lewis had gone over to the Power as he generally does, to assist in the work of cleaning the pipes.

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