The New York herald., 1878-11-28
BURIED BY A LAND SLIDE.

JOHN Sims, AT WORK ON THE NEW PIER AT
LONG BRANCH, BURIED AIIvE-ALLEGED CARE
LESS MANAGEMENT OF TIE WORK.
A lamentablc accident occurred yesterday morning
in connection with the construction Of the Long
Branch iron pier. by which John Sims resident of
Long Branch, buried alive. Work was first begun
the pier two weeks ago last Saturday by making
excavations in the bluff in front Of the Ocean House
for the wall which is to be 225 feet wide. The
contractor of the work was Mr.. dob Johnson,
of Brooklyn. Mr.. Johnson was also the
architect of the prospective pier The work Of build
ing the pier attracted many visitors the spot and
some days over three hundred Of tho country folk
in by wagon and train to witness the undertak-
ing. They would approach the verge Of the bluff to
witness the movements Of the workmen, and the
contractor becoming afraid that the blu would give
way, erected wooden fence to keep the tllrong
back. At depth Of about fifteen feet met q
streak of white sand Of twenty inches in thickness
The men at work warned that this streak Of
sand would give way by the effect of any storm and
that the bluff should be braced. The advice not
needed In spite of the warning OF storm signals that
heavy northeast gale was imminent Foreman Scho-
field ordered gang of eight laborers to work exca-
waiting the bluff yesterday morning.
THE ACCIDENT.
Herctofore-so it IL stated-a lookout posted on
the bluff to give word of any danger of the bluff NOV
ing; but men and foreman alike were working below
whcn without any warming the top boulder OF earth
slid. Two men, the deceased and another, named
Michael Flood. caught by the falling debris.
Both made run toward the eea. Flood escaped by
leaping into the trench but his companion was
caught by a second slide and buried beneath fifty tons
of falling earth. An alarm was given and the seven
workmen assisted by many willing volunteers,
began the work Of extricating poor Sims. He was
buried with about three feet Of earth over him. 1t
time before they located his body by the dis
covery of a nason's plumb line Twenty minutes after
the caving in OF the bluff the body found stand
ing close to the wall of the bluff with the face toward
the sea, and both of the stretched upward in
the position they in when he attempted to leap
out of the trench. before the second slide came
life was extinct. The Coroner summoned. and at
first said that it necessary to hold inquest.
as Sims death purely accidental. but when the
reporters told him their suspicious he cmpancled a
jury and held The verdict accidental death.
The only witness examined Schofeld, the fore
man. who said the man was killed by his
lessness not throwing down his spade and running
through the trench.
Major wardell. wrecking master for the coast
wrccking service of the Coroncr's jury, told the
HERALD correspondent that hour before the acci
dent he visited the spot and passed the remark that
the bluff to be kept from falling. should be briced
and shored with planks. Michael Flood, the who
SO luckily escaped informed the HERALD correspond
ent that Foreman Schofcd at work elsewhere
laying cement when the accident occurred. The de-
seven years old married, and painter by trade.
The body remained until three o'clock ut the work
mems house the bluff, until Father Walsh the
pastor Of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church,
said no would raise q subscription for Sims inter-