The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-05-12
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: The 5ault, ths l.Sa y ere s4se9so IN sine'
Ing, was just inside Of partition sall. that
projected out a fewrlret beyoad sas ssore
room. 4 hole had been knocked through
this wall, for the purpose Of passing in the
curling, brick, &c, A couple of curbs had
been shnkeb add jointe,t aud scaffold
erected al the joints Both Of these curbs
were filed in with brick. The partition
wall being considered safe, no particular
pains had been taken to secure it. At the
time the wall gave way, Clark was at the
bottom of the vault, digging under the curb
ing, and picking the dirt ON the scatfold.-
Skinner stood On the platform, throwing the
dirt out. Schafer, whose business it was to
load the dirt into the cart, was awaiting its
return, and was looking into the hole. =
Schaff.r was struck first, and dropped
head foremost, into the hole. The scat.
fold, on which Skinner was standing, gave
way beneath the weight of brick and NOR
tar and the whole were precipitated to the
DOttoH-SOmc twenty iSee. A'eh""Si ""o
completely doubled up his head and feet
laying close together. The probability is
that he was killed instantaneously by the
blow received from the falling wall. Clark
was caught under Schafier, in a bent up
position. A portion Of the scaffold held
his head down, 50 as 10 prevent him from
getting any fresh air, while the body OF
Schafier and great portion Of the rubbish
was on top Of the board. Skinner went
down with the platform, but was standing
erect, and had better opportunity for
breathing.
Active steps were immediately taken to
remove the rubbish A couple of energetic
m,a, one of them brother of one of the
men covered up, sprung into the hole and
commenced removing the bricks and earth.
The Mayor was on hand directing opera
tons and restraining the crowd, who, per-
sistendy, crowded on the workmen. Word
was soon passed from below that two of
the men were alive. About one clock,
Mr.. Skinner, to the great joy Of his friends,
was lifted out of the pit aud taken to the
house of his brother. He seemed nearly
exhausted though not dangerously bruised
The workmen redoubled their exertions to
rescue the remaining two. We understand
that Mr.. Bedford one of the men engaged
in digging out the dirt, gradually worked
his hand down towards the head OF Clark,
so that he might obtain draught of
fresh air lie could be heard speak very
distinctly, and he plead earnestly for them
to relieve him. Upon more of the dirt be-
ing removed, he remarked, 81 see daylight
For some time hopes were entertained that
his life would be saved. By this time Schaffer
was uncovered sufficiently to permit rope
to be placed around him, and he was raised
ont OF the vault. Drs. Bray and Morgan
used every exertion that skill and anxiety
could suggest TO bring him to life, but it was
too late; the vital spark had fled.
The workmen continued their labors in
excavating Clark About 20 minutes before
they succeeded in clearing away the dirt, the
poor fellow remarked, Z" am dying" These
were the last words he ever uttered When
he was raised to the surface, the physicians
did what they could to resuscitate him, but
in his case, "a the other, il was too late
Both Schaffer aud Clark had the marks
of severe Commissions on their faces, and were
badly bruised in other parts of their bodies
Thus were two steady, hard-working men
cut off without moments warning, and
seemingly without any particular cause; for
they had been working under the wall that
tumbied down, for couple of days and
they regarded it Ms perfectly safe. 1t fell
without receiving any perceptible jar. Had
it remained standing fifteen minutes longer
all would have been well, as the men would
have been gone to their dinners. Mr.. Clark
leaves n wife and three small children, who
were solely dependent on his labor for their
support. Mr.. Schatfer leaves wife and
one child. r
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