Source, Rutland Daily Herald--April 14, 1909. Page 1. TAKEN ALIVE FROM UNDER LANDSLIDE, Rescuers Get Topeko Out This Morning, Working All Night. FOUR QUARRYMEN MET DEATH. Hungarians and Polanders Buried Under Tons of Debris Near West Pawlet as Disaster Comes Without Warning--Five Others Escape as Earth Gives Way--One, More Than Six Feet Below and His Hands Pinned Down by Huge Stone, Directs Efforts for His Release--Uncovered and Food and Drink Administered to Him ; Then He Waits Patiently for Freedom Until Boulder is Chipped Away. WEST PAWLET, April 14--After working all night in desperate attempts to release one of the Hungarians who were buried by the landslide early yesterday at Owen Brothers' slate quarry, which cost four lives, rescuers at 2 o'clock this morning succeeded in freeing Simon Topeko, whose calls for help from under the debris were heard late yesterday afternoon. The debris was removed from around Topeko's body before midnight, but his hands were found to be pinned down by a huge rock, and it was not until this was gouged out with tools that the man could be released. Topeko's hands were badly crushed, but it is believed that they may be saved. The man's experience was one of the most trying in the history of the slate quarries, but he bore up well, talking with and directing his rescuers, although buried beneath more than six feet of dirt and stone. Topeko's body,except his hands, was uncovered by 10 o'clock last night, and the man, although greatly weakened, was able to partake of drink and nourishment while awaiting his final release. When his hands had been freed this morning, he was taken to his home, where he was attended by a physician. Topeko, who is known here as "Teddy Roosevelt," is about 45 years old, and has a wife and three children in the old country. In the landslide, which occurred about 8:30 o'clock this morning, fully 1000 tons of debris was precipitated upon the workmen a strip from the embankment fully 125 feet long and 40 feet deep, tearing down upon them. The dead are all Hungarians or Polanders and some of them had been in this country only a short time.    THE LIST OF DEAD. The dead are;--Padaws Tuvitch, 21, single, has sister in Reading, Pa. Michael Somakiv, aged 25, married, no children. Steve Saulties, aged 27, wife and one child in Hungary. George Kurmus, aged 50, single. The quarry is locate about half way between Granville, N.Y., and West Pawlet, and about 2 +1/2 miles from this town, at what is known as Warren's Switch. Owing to the fact that Monday was observed by the Hungarians as a general holiday, but few men went to work yesterday morning. The force employed in the two pits of the Owen Brothers' quarry varies from 25 to 50, and the quarry is one of the largest in the vicinity. When the quarry was inspected yesterday in accordance with the usual custom, everything was found all right, and there was not the slightest indication that an accident might occur. Apparently the warm weather of the last few days had worked the frost out of the ground and loosened the embankment. FIVE ESCAPED SLIDE. There were 10 men at work when without warning beyond the crackling and jar as the earth gave way, a great mass of the debris came tearing down the incline into the pits. Five of the workers, being nearer the edge of the pits, swarmed out hurriedly and escaped unscathed. The other five, however, were caught and pinned down, while the dirt, slate and rock poured gradually over four of them until they were buried to a depth varying from 20 to 30 feet. It is roughly estimated that fully 1000 tons of debris slid into the quarry, 125 feet below. The frightened quarrymen who escaped quickly summoned assistance, and frantic efforts were made to reach the buried men. One of them, Steve Saulties, was found dead on the surface of the heap, his body being buried to the hips in debris. A huge piece of rock had struck the man in the back and his body was terribly crushed. It was quickly removed and the rescuers began digging in an attempt to reach the other victims. HEAR BURIED MAN'S VOICE. Late in the afternoon a man's voice was heard, appealing for help, from underneath the heap by the rescuers. He said his name was Simon Topeko, and that he was not badly injured. Frantic efforts were made by the rescuers to uncover Topeko, who was believed to be about six feet below the surface of the slide. At 10 o'clock last night the man had been uncovered and was given water to drink and some food.He displayed considerable weakness, resulting from the terrible experience, but bravely set his teeth and waited while his rescuers chipped away at the big stone. The task was a long one and was not finished until 2 o'clock this morning, when the man was picked up and tenderly carried to his home. So far as could be discovered he is none the worse for his experience, except that his hands are badly crushed. The other men were believed to have perished,and their bodies apparently are so far below the surface that it may be several days before they are all removed. Dr. R. C. Davis of Granville was at the scene of the accident, tonight, to render medical assistance in case of need. Hundreds of people from surrounding towns, on learning of the accident yesterday came to the quarry and watched the rescuers work. The accident is the worst one that has occurred here since the memorable tragedy of more than two years ago, when 11 men were killed in the Warren Slate company's quarry by a landslide. RESCUED BY MEANS OF ROPES. Mike Harry, one of the men who escaped, had a rather close call. Although surrounded by flying stones he was not hit and his precarious position was noticed by Owen X Williams. Will E. Jones, John K. Williams and Owen Williams, who secured long ropes and went part way down the sides of the quarry, where they passed another rope to the imperilled man. This he seized and came up hand over hand, escaping uninjured, although the air around him was full of flying debris. Transcribed by, Joan H. Bixby Genealogy not just a hobby, but a labor of love.