New-York tribune., 1881-08-28
A CRASH IN UNION SQUARE.


and Union Squares except placing the lamps ana
globes on the pclcs Owing to unfriendly CRITICISM
when the circuit in Broadway was hghteu'
the company had decided TO nave
private exhibition yesterday morning. al WHICH
only its officers and few workmen should De pres
ent. 1t was ascertained from one of the workmen
that Robert j. Sheehy, the superintendent OF the
company did not wish to have the exhibition yes
terdav morning as he has been unwell for several
favs and did not feel equal to the task of superln-
tending the work and besides, he did not think
that the work had been carried on far enough to
complete it in the short time given him after mid
night. His objections, however were overruled by
the company. and five mon who had been at work
putting up lamps at Booths Theatre from six O'Clock
Friday morning until midnight, began at that late
hour put ing the globes the poesn Union Square
There present A. A. Hayes, jr., the secretary
of the company, Chief Engineer McGratb, Mr..
Sheehy, who had charge of the exhibition, TRIB-
UNE reporter and few meu who were attracted to
the spot by the light cast by the solitary lantern
used by the workmen.
At half past one o'clock the four lamps had been
placed in the upper carriage" and the work of
hosting 1t to the top of the pole was begun. The
pole is 100 feet in height, and the platform upon
which the carriage" had rested was twenty feet
from the ground. There windlass attached to
the pole at the top of the platform and by its several
complicated cog wheel attachments ii was intended
easily raise the 75O pounds weight to the desired
height in few moments. 1t found, how
ever, that three could scarcely move the single
"carrage" Another man went TO their assistance
and the four succeeded in raising it about
fifty feet in half hour when it became necessary
to rest until the two lamps designed for the lower
and smaller carriage" had been attached The
globes for the top of the pole made of plain,
heavy glass; but those for the middle intended both
to lamuS
above, were of cut glass. The two carriages"
were connected and it was found that the men on
the platform could not raise them foot. Mr.
Sheehy and the remaining worISmen took hold and
together the six raised them very slowly. At
$50 the lamps were nearly IN position. Mr.. Hayes
had Just left the platform and was talking to the
reporter few yards from the foot of the pole. Chief
Engineer McGrath was standing the lad
der leading 10 the platform. The men had rested
moment and were laughing at some joke perDe
trated upon one of their number The upper " car
rage" within five feet of the top of the pole.
Mr. Hayes explaining the virtues of the electric
light in general and especially the one for Union
Square. " There was a break in the machinery, by
which the current lighting this pole is to be made,
of our circuits is cut OIL at o'clock an
other at half past one and third at two o'clock.
We are going to connect this current with the
glhes that have been IN use and no delay Will fol-
low 1t is doubtful if we light the Madison Square
pole Tonight as it is getting SO late; But af CT all
this is the important tight Why, see. it will
light not only the whole of Union Square, but
ftlteenhth-fEt; thd E;ft from river to river Broadway
University Place. FOurth-ave. and other reefs for
long distance. The reporter suggested that if the
more brilliant, but he was told Those feeble
lights will not be more than tallow dips in ten min
Suddenly noise like the slipping of cog wheels
was heard Mr. Sheehy shouted: Jump" just
10 raise 1870 feet ie with crash that was heard
half mile. In descending, the upper carriage
overlook the lower one, shattering the globes of
NNh I'm a ShO of Wl HrIo
the workmen. The superintendent had jumped to
the ground as sooD as the noise startled him. One
the head by the rapidly revolving wiudlass.
Two of the men were fastened between the platform
Had startled the fifty sleepers lying on the park
beuches who crowded around the pole. A dozen
policemen who had just answered burglar alarm
IL fHteenth-st.e ana Tetueu TO their respective
beats, came rushing back One of them was sent to
arrived few moments
Meanwhile, the superintendent. himself terribly
Shocked by the faL from the platform and almost
stunned by falling pieces of iron which came
rattllug down as soon the carriages struck
the platform, climbed up The ;, broken Ladder
surgeon from the hospital said that two of the men
would probably die -Four of them taken to the
hospital, tie ambulance making two trips, and one
man down fnteenth-st yelling ~ the top of his
voice: My hand Is cut OIL" 1t found that
only two of hls fingers were missing. man who
had received only scalp wound had it dressed and
went home. Two OF tho workInen were injured so
badly internally that nothing could be done for
them. One OF them, Robert Stewart died a. 6
O'clock half an hour before his family &C uid reach
the hospital. The other, Ernest Duchenei, had no
relatives in this country except cousin Who is EN-
plOyed by the Brush Company. lie died at o'clock
yesterday morning The reporter saw the wife and
child of one OF the wounded men at the hospital
She said that she had expected her husband
home early in, the evening as he Had known
nothing OF TINS extra work when lie
lett home ill the morning. All night long
Until all the work rkmen were properly cared for the
Superin tendent had thought Of his own INJURIES
and even after the aIobu ance had left the paik the
second time his anxiety wac chiefly Tor tEc aborcrs
and their families. lie would not 60 To the hospital
and "a cab was called and he was taken 10 It's hcme
His injuries not serious
One of the workinen in the employ Of the company
SAID yesterday Il pity the poor fellows that were
hurt but L might have been there too. The fore
man was looking for me. but believe that twelve
hours a day are long enough for a man to work and
l kept out Of sight all the evening. | didn't
like the Idea OF working around those poles
at night anyway, Perhaps ii necessary
if the company wished to surprise the folks get
ahead of the papers and make a great splurge; but
didn't care to have hand In IL. And then it
never seemed 70 lne THAT 1t was just safe for half
dozen men To- be penned III by that railing above the
platform. There 100 many chances Of a rope
breaking or man slipping, a wheel cracking to
smt me. One would naturally think too, that n
company that appears enlightened would have
soine other plan for hoisting such "a heavy weight
than by mere muscular effort. The idea of using
awindlass turned by men, men, too that were com
pletely tagged out, when by spending Ii few dollars
could have been used! stewart was the most daring
and the most skllful workman on the force"
Coroner Eiiiuger sent his deputy, DIR. Gold
scilnldt 10 the hospital TO make p0st-mortem ex-
animation yesterday, and he said that both OF the
died from internal injuries. Ii thought that
the other men will recover The cause OF the acci-
dent was found To be the breaking of a wheel used
IL the windlass. The wheel was cast iron and had
been tested thoroughly; flaw was discovered
and Engineer McGrath, who made n careful inves-
tigatioD could give no reason for its breaking The
dc0ris was removed early yesterday morning and
uc traces OF the accident visible at noon
INC names and injuries OF the men who died
as follows: