HIGH PRAISE FOR ‘THE CAVE ELECTRICIAN’S WIDOW’

FROM USNN WORLD NEWS: Was it the result of a nearby quarry blast, releasing deadly fumes into the underground passages, or was it due to natural gases lurking in the caverns? The tragic event set off a series of rescue missions, investigations, and legal actions taken by the widows of the deceased men in pursuit of justice.

Cudmore, a former tour guide at Howe Caverns during the 1970s, delves into the details of the case, offering readers a glimpse into the courtroom drama and the enduring mystery surrounding the deaths. Through first-hand accounts and vivid descriptions, the author paints a compelling narrative of the events leading up to and following the tragedy.

The book provides a unique perspective on the history of Howe Caverns, a popular tourist attraction since the mid-1800s, and offers insights into a lesser-known chapter of its past.

Delving into the archives and court records of the case, Cudmore brings to light the efforts made to uncover the truth behind the tragedy and hold those responsible accountable. The book explores the complexities of the legal proceedings, with witnesses from various backgrounds providing conflicting testimonies, leaving readers questioning what truly transpired underground on that fateful day.

As readers embark on a journey through the pages of “The Cave Electrician’s Widow,” they are transported back to a bygone era, where the pursuit of justice intertwines with the mystique of the underground world. The book offers a compelling narrative that keeps readers on edge until the final verdict is revealed.

For those intrigued by the history of Howe Caverns and the quest for justice, “The Cave Electrician’s Widow” promises to be a captivating read, filled with rare photos, court exhibits, and appendices. Available for purchase online and at select bookstores, the book invites readers to uncover the secrets hidden beneath the surface of this historic tourist destination.

FROM THE NORTHEASTER CAVER: In The Cave Electrician’s Widow, Dana Cudmore draws on his own extensive research on the history of Howe Caverns and the surrounding areas, as well as archival documents and court transcripts, to tell the story of how Wallis and Sagendorf died, and how their cause of death became the subject of a court battle between Wallis’s widow, Martha, and the quarry corporation.

Section one of the book opens with the drama of April 24th and sets the stage for the court case that followed, introducing many of the key players and events.

Section two lays out the plaintiff’s case in detail, including the witness testimony and questioning, arguing that Wallis and Sagendorf died as a direct result of fumes from the blast being carried into the cave.

Section three lays out the quarry’s defense, their own witness testimony, and the argument that the blast was clean and the men died from a situation they couldn’t have anticipated, perhaps even naturally-occurring Co2 in the cave atmosphere.

Section four discusses the conclusion and history after the case.

Cudmore’s presentation of the material effectively puts the reader in a very similar position to the jury; like the jury, we must determine who we find credible and examine what the evidence actually tells us about these events.

Cudmore, as narrator, occasionally gives us his own form of jury instructions, noting details about each witness and occasionally correcting errors in their testimony, while retaining the uncertainty of the ongoing arguments.

It’s a delicate balance to strike – readers (like the jurors) have already heard about the events of April 24 in section one, and as a result, have some opinions about what may have happened.

The testimony, however, is well chosen, and maintains a sense of uncertainty; Cudmore excerpts the more useful or dramatic back-and-forth moments among witnesses, lawyers, and judge, but summarizes the less critical parts. The result is engaging and holds both tension and momentum as the trial progresses.

There are a great many examples in real life of a story that builds tension, but it takes some narrative skill and an observant writer to give those stories a satisfying conclusion. Often the end of a story in life is a slow trailing off and disassembly of the narrative as threads are lost, dropped, or become irrelevant: an anticlimax more than a denouement. I won’t report the ending here, to preserve the experience of the book, but in review I felt Cudmore had done a nice job drawing the threads together and providing a satisfying conclusion to the case. Similarly, he includes and highlights things that force us to question our own interpretation of the events, tracing two threads for us to resolve: what killed these men, and what verdict will the jury return?

FROM THE SCHENECTADY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY: On April 24, 1930 at 5:02 am, the North American Cement Corporation, the largest employer in Schoharie County, set off a large dynamite explosion under a nearby hill to dislodge 60,000 tons of limestone, a major component of cement. A few hours later, prior to the start of public tours, two Caverns employees – electrician Owen Wallis and supervisor John Sagendorf – descended by elevator 16 stories beneath the surface to begin their morning inspection rounds. When they did not return, worried staff went down to investigate. They found the Caverns filled with poisonous gas and the bodies of Wallis and Sagendorf.

Dana Cudmore tells the story in his book, The Cave Electrician’s Widow: The Tragedy of Howe Caverns and Dramatic Courtroom Fight for Justice. The electrician’s widow, Martha Wallis, sued the North American Cement Corporation for damages. The civil case was tried before a jury at the Schenectady County Courthouse, 108 Union Street. Most of Cudmore’s book is composed of the verbatim trial transcript with analysis by Cudmore. But along the way, we learn the history of Howe Caverns and of the hamlet of Howe Cave, and a bit about the personal stories of the victims, their families, and the witnesses testifying at the trial.

Among the witnesses were mining engineers, chemists, explosive experts, and doctors including medical examiners, pathologists, and clinicians. Of course, the attorneys for the plaintiff (Martha Wallis) and the defendant (North American Cement Corporation) each brought in expert witnesses to make their case and rebut the opposing side. One key question was, did the blast from the dynamite explosion release a gas that made its way through underground passages and poison the victims who were located one-half mile away? Or did the force of the explosion unleash a dangerous gas already in the Caverns that had somehow been sequestered in enclosed spaces, perhaps for thousands of years?

The transcript testimony provides more than you will ever want to know about carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitroglycerine, the dynamics of explosions, air currents, relative heaviness of gasses and the geology of caves. Given the technical complexities of the case, the performance of the attorneys in the examination and cross-examination of the witnesses is quite impressive. Cudmore’s analysis and engaging narrative helps unravel the complexities.

We will not divulge who won the case. You will have to read the book.