Deadly Gas Stands Guard

Provideiíck, B. I., Sept. 5. - Five employea of the Providence Gas company went to thoir death in the cellar of the Westfleld street gas -holdor, asphyxiated by gas. The ñames of the dead are : James Colton, Johu Riley, John McManus, Law rence Kearns and John Manco. The accident was a peculiar one. For severa! daya leaking gas liad been detected In the holder and the company sent six men and a foreman to repair the lsak, which provee] to come from a defective valve. The men had just returned from dinner, and going down the wooden stairs, which led from the entrance of the holder to the cellar below, bogan to work on the broken valve. They disconnected it and tled a cloth bag about the large main extending in from the street, when the brtg gave way and an immense volume of gas rushed out In less time than it takes to teil it all were overeóme, with the exceptlon of one who managed to grope up the stairs whero the fresh air enabled him to recover sufilciently to reaeh the street. Immediately after it bccame known that the men were there and unable to get out willing hands attompted to go to the rescue, but nothinf. oould be done while tho escaplng gas rushed up the stairs. Foreman Allen die all he could, but there was no cut off in the street and he know not what way te turn. The pólice wore qulckly on the spot am roped off Westfleld stroet, and Medica Exaniiner Palmer stood in the doorway to prevent anybody from going down the etairs. At the foot of the stairs lay one o the men, who had almost reached the bot torn stair when he was overeóme and sani back. A look of anguish was on his countenance. Soon after 3 o'clock the gas company sent a gang of men to dig up the street to get at the main shut-of further along, it being understood tha no other means of shutting off the ga. could be attained and even then it mean two hours' work. Foreman Allen took a hand in the ex cavation, and was overeóme before the digging had proceeded far. He was taker to the Ehode Island hospital in the ambu lance, which arrived a short time before His life is deapaired of. Jason Blackmar who lives opposiU", tuvned his house am yard into a hospital of need, and stood in readincss to aid the authorities in any way nossible.