William J. Dolan, 44, lock tender, saved John R. Johnston, 32, assistant superintendent, from suffocation, Cleveland, Ohio, July 24, 1916. An explosion occurred near the face of a tunnel that had been driven over 1,400 feet from the base of a shaft in Lake Erie. Nine men at work in the tunnel were killed. Dolan was blown into an airlock 133 feet from the shaft but was not badly injured. Johnston and six other men descended and were passed through the lock by Dolan. Johnston and all but one of the men with him were overcome by gas about 130 feet from the lock. Dolan, who was following the party, met one member returning and was told that all the others were dead. He saw Johnston’s light, went to Johnston, and, although feeling ill, dragged him nearly to the lock. The other man met him there and helped to carry Johnston into the lock and then to the hoist. The three were hoisted. Dolan was vomiting when he reached the surface, but he recovered. Johnston regained consciousness in a hospital the next day and recovered. Five members of the Johnston party were taken out dead. 17327-1266
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