The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-07-07
FALLING OF 4 SCAFFsiD.
'Tyyo Mcn Prccipitnted 81 Distance of
Fifty Feet

Ewo Mcn Prccipitatcd IL Distance of
Fifiy Feet.
We are indebted TO the Whitehall Times
for proof sheets containing an account of a
terrible casualty at that place from which
we condensc the following: 1t is our sad
province to announce a terrible casualty
that occurred in this village at IL o'clock,
m, on Saturday, July 4th. Two men,
named George Becker and James Coyle,
residents of New York city, are slaters in
the employ OF Richard Lewis of Fairhaven,
and were engaged in stating the tower of
J. $. POtter's new residence in course of
construction on the hill, east Of this vii
lagc. The top of the tower, where the
men were engaged at work is fifty feet
from the ground on the west side. About
the roof surrounding the tower, the men
were engaged in placing slate. They were
standing upon scaffold, which extended
around the four sides. The part of the
roof on which they were laying slate has
perpendicular sides. For the purpose of
cXpediting work the two men had carried
up large quantity of slate, thus load
ing the scaffold to its utmost ca
pacity. We are told that the men
had been cautioned against this, in
fact they had narrowly escaped a
similar calamity the day previous
Just as the clock struck twelve, Becker
and Coylc were on the south side of the
tower They ceased work and both threw
down their stating tools at the same time
AS they did so, the conclusion caused the
supports at the northwest corner on which
the platform rested to give way Becker,
who was standing nearest the edge. then
slid from the platform, followed by Coyle
Both men struck the ground below
about the same time. William Frazier and
two or three other men, whose names we
did not learn, were at work near by. Mr..
Frazier Immediately ran TO the unfortunate
mems assistance Coylc was found to he
bruised about the head, hands and
left leg, yet he was conscious, and
when aid was rendered him by the
men who came To his assistance,
the brave fellow told them to leave
him alone, as he was not much hurt, and
give their attention to Becker, who he
thought was killed. Becker, who is Il
powerful built man, was found to be hor-
ribly mutilatcd. There is Il deep cash eX-
tending from the forehead to the top Of the
skull, in which finger can he laid. The
doctors think it is not fractured. His left
collar bone was found To be broken on
the ankle and knee, the bones protruding
through the flesh of the shin the under
| Jaw broken on the left side the face and
eyes horribly battered up, so that the fea
| lures we're unacceptable. Besides these
he was bruised about the arms, hands and
body. When picked up he was insensiblc
His respiration was hard, with loud rat
| Ting noise in the breathing organs II
| was thought that his ribs were broken ant
had punctured the lungs, but towards
evening on Saturday, the rafting moist
ceased and the breathing became mor'
natural.
After the wounded men had LAID upoI
the green for short time, Drs Herber
| and IIolcomb, who had made an eXamina
ton pronounced Coyle all right, as his in
iuries were only flesh bruises about thu
limbs, with slight confusion on the fore
head. A litter was made and Becker place.
upon it, when volunteers from the crow
which had assembled, transported TIL
bleeding and suffering man to the Cit
Hall. Coyle was also carried to his board
ing house A bed was then procured, an
the insensible form of Becker laid upon il
DIR. Herbert then proceeded to dress hi
wounds. He set the broken leg, but though
il unsafe to set the broken collar bone c
Jaw, in the low condition which Beck(
was in. Towards night, however, he b.
gan to rally somewhat. He talked inct
herently, but seemed to answer question
that were put to him, as if he partially r
? diILci hlo situutiOhs i'uiih5 WV hioh
Becker slept most of TIE time. His su
fering at times were intense. During Il
Sabbath he remained in about the san
condition.
Mr. j. s. Potter gave orders to ha'
everything provided for the sufferers col
fort. Becker is II family man. He h
Il wife living in New York, but they ba
a not lived together for some time. lie
about 20 years of age, and has alwa
4 been hard working industrious ma
Coyle informs us that he and Becker ha
!. worked together for seven or eight veal
G having left New York city only four wee
ago. since which time they have been e
ployed by Mr. Lewis. AS we wr
Becker's condition is about the same as
- has been since Saturday evening. |
pulse is good, and unless he has receiv
internal injuries his recovery is possib
Drs. Herbert and Holcombe are attcndi
him. DIR. A. j. Long was called in
Sunday evening for consultation.
, gave as his opinion, that Becker's chan'
for life were possible.