Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-07-09
FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT
'"o "'" KILLED AND FIVE WOUNDED.
.N'OB6DI' TO RL.A.UE.


cident took place on the new State Department
building, on 18th street, just south of the Navy
Department, by which tive persons were killed
instantly and five wounded-one or more Sc
riously. There were three very large derrcks,
each ninety feet high, used in hosting stone
and lowering them 10 their beds on the walls.
These three derricks were ranged in line from
east 10 west, and were all connected together at
their tops by single guy rope Of wire, SO that
If one fell all must inevitably fall. At the hour
six tons, was suspended from one of the der
ricks-that at the extreme east-and was being
lowered to its place on the wall, when one of the
guys, fastened on the east, was drawn from its
socket, and the three derricks serged to the
westward, and came down in that direction with
a terrible crash among the workmen, scattering
death and destruction in their fall.
THE EILLED AND WOUNDED.
Jeremiah Darby, hod-csrrier, was standing
on a frame " CENTER on which an arch was
being turned, and was struck bythe timbers and
on which he stood into the basement, ten or
twelve feet below. He was shOckirgiy mangled
and crushed, and it was necessary to pick up his
remains piece by piece.
Robert SICollins, bricklayer a deaf mute,
was struck by some of the ropes and timbcrs,
ard had his right arm broken, and received a
bad ent in the head, but it is hoped aud believed
the 81 ull Is not fractured. His fellow workns Il
hid him conveyed TO his home, or Beau StrL -
between High and Congress streets, Georset own
Henson Dyson,s cOlored man, tie driver Of
team to the front of the building on 9th street
and was seated on the bank, when the crash
came ard the top of one Of the deTricks struck
him on the head, and fractured his skull so badly
that when BE was picked up E portion OF his
brains OoZed out. Notwtbstandi ding this teri BILE
wouud he was alive two hours afterwards when
his friends took him to his home in Georgetown
A man, whose body had not been identified
up 10 10 O'Clock, was walking on the east si,o OF
nth street at the tine of the accident and sorae
OF the falling timber struck him full in the face,
mass, and killing him outright. He had an UNI
bTeila in his hand marked T. s., and from
his appearance Is supposed to be an Irish man.
Patrick Corcoran, labOrer, residing on the
corner of 13k and G streets s. w.was injured
on the shoulder and cut about the head, but not
seriously, as he was able to go to his home.
alley, near the Government Printing Office, had
several ribs broken, and is supposed to have
suffered internal injuries. He was taken to
Providence hospital.
Jeremiah Brosnahan, residing in South
Washington, was struck on the back and shouI-
der, and is slightly bruised.
Drs. j. G. Riley, Baldwin, Reyburn, Ashford
Carusi, and j. L. Young were soon on the
ground rendering all the assistance in their
power to the wounded. Sergeant Buel and
Officers Hurst, Riley, Byron, and Collins, of
and Sullivan were also promptly on the ground
attending to the comfort of the wounded aud
their removal to their homes or the hospital.
HOW 1T HAPPENED.
The guys to these derricks were of twisted
WIe. The one which gave way was fastened in
the Presidents grounds, and under the strain II
drew out of its socket as easily, an observing
spectator said, as "drawing a candle from a
mould" In making the fastenings, it appears
that the end of the wire rope is passed into an
iron socket. The end is then spre adj or branched
too short, or the cavity not perfectly filled with
lead, of course the fastening is imperfect
whether either of these causes led 20 the disas-
ter In this case remains to be developed during
the investigation by the coroner.
Later-The Inquest.
Dr. Patterson, assisted by DR.. Hartigan held
an inquest at IL O'Clock, the following being the
Iurors:-G. l.. Clark, Charles Calvert, r. p
Ctutehett; Chas. Lehman, Cornelius Madella,
Chas A. Sengstack, Ed. Barrett, Josiah Shaw,
John X. Ergood, Geo. A. Shehan, w. III. Good
acre and Henry Moore. The witnesses were all
persons employed on the work.
James GtRntty testified that this morning they
were hosting stone, and when it was six inches
from the ground the guy gave way, pulling
through the shackle, and the entire arrange,
ment fell over, killing two men and woundfng
several. The shackles require no kew. the CROOK
securing them. Last evening a much heavier
stone was raised. He believed the accident un-
ihorseen, and no person to blame. They used
hand power, because the steam power was not
ures were used.
Daniel Kelly testified that much larger stone
was raised Yesterday, and was suspended twenty
tens.
W. T. De,cdney corroborated the above testi-
mony and further testified that an experienced
derrick rigger had examined the works and pro-
nounced them perfectly safe.
Ddrid !. Abbott, inspector, testified to hearing
other witnesses that the arrangements were per-
fectly secure.
Patrick NaAer corrobOrated the above evil
dence.
VIM. Keefer also corroborated the above evil
dence.
Joseph Darts testified that there was nothing
A. fs1 tive in h. q hat
II was thought the loops We re not strong enough
and he was directed to put on new ones: that
when the wire was introduced into the shacklcs
the strands were driven down with iron pins
and a few steel ones were introduced for further
security. The shackles were perfect and such
an accident seemed impossible.
The jurors examined the guy which gave way,
and it appeared that the wires had Strengthened
and pulled out.
NOBODY TO BLAME
The jury after elaboration returned a YER
dict that jeremiah DAILY and an unknown man
came to their deaths between the hours OF &
and O'Clock, on the 9th of July, at the new
State DEPARTMENT building by the falling OF
urely unforeseen; and further that no blame
can be attached to the contractors or others,
Ordinary precautions having been used to pre-
vent such calamity.
THE BODY OF DAILY,
VINO Is about 80 years old, and had been work
ing about the Treasury and other government
buildings for the past Is years, was placed in
charge of Mr.. Gawler, undertaken, and taken
TO his residence on I'd street, near Virginia ave
nue., where he has q wife and four children. Mr..
Gawler also took charge of the unknown man,
and Will, under the instructions of the Coroner
keepit three days for Identification.
~
Board OF Health.
AN OYSTER CLAIN-sMALL-Pox-DEA AMI
MALS-NIGHT SOIL, ETC.
regular meeting Of the board OF health was
held last night; MIR. Marbury in the chair
MIR. Langston, from the ordinance committee
TO whom was referred the claim of $3.50 damages
sustained by an oyster dealer by having guam
tity OF oysters condemned last season by the in
spector, made a report that after full hearing
OF the evidence in the case the counsel of the
claimant had offered to compromise the claim
Tor slco, and recommended that the comprO-
mise be not accepted, since the condemnation
was, in his opinion. Just.
HE health officer reported five new cases OF
small pox and one death since the last meeting
Of the board.
The report of Mr.. Wolf, the contractor for re-
moving dead animals, was submitted showing
that since tde LIST Of July, 1871, to date, there
we're collected In the streets Of Washington and
GeOrgefORn. Of 10