Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-04-04
AFALLINa TOWER.

An Electric Light Structure Falls with
Crash-A Negro Boy Fatally Injured
His Skull Crushed = The Accident
Caused by a Slipping Windlass CRANK
The electric light tower in progress
of erection at the corner OF frlce
and Huntington streets, in the southeast
ern part Of the city, fell yesterday proDa-
blv fatally iniuring a cOlOred lad, about
sa,-on vaars Of age. named Willie Linn
mems who was watching the work. Four
sections Of the tower had been placed in
position when the accident occurred. The
ton section was about sixty-fOur feet from
the ground and in falling struck the
corner of a brick building facing the
structure, tearing loose the corniee and
raking the bricks. The branches of a tree
growing near the sidewalk were crasheu
through. and the iron balcony which Is
built on the top section to support the
lamps. fell to the ground, striking the DOy
and crushing his skull. The little fellow
was picked up in an unconscious cOnul-
ton and taken to his home near DS-
Medical assistance was called, and he was
placed first under the care OF Dr. heau'
and afterwards Of DR.. Oliyeros. lie re-
manned insensible until last mght,
4
consciousness. The fracture OF
the skull is very deep, and no hopes are
entertained Of his recovery. IL was De
Iieyed he would live but lew hours.
The tower fell about > o'clock. From the
statement Of those in charge OF the WOTk
and those who witnessed the accident II
was attributed to a slipping of the wind
las crank used TO raise the iron sections
10 their positiOn. There was, however,
failure on the part OF the
men employed on the work to comply with
Instructions. The Superintendent OF
Construction. MI Daniel 5. Mills, was
absent at the time the disaster occurred:
On going to dinner he was detained
longer than usual by important CORES
pOndence, and placed his assistant, MT.
AdOlDh Fernandez, in charge. Mr.. Fer
nandez was also called away, but left
orders with the men to put the lnterlne-
diate girts. the cross pieces used TO stay
the corner posts, together on the ground.
This they omitted to do, but set back the
derricks. and began raising for the next
section.
When the frame work was elevated 10
nearly a sufficient height for the brace
rods to be fixed in place the Wlndless
crank slipped and the slackened rope al
lowed the tower to bend over till 1t fell with
a crash. While the accident did occur IN
the absence of both the superintendent
and his assistant, il might also have Oc-
CURED had they been present. Inc neaNY
weight of the iron work to which the
windlass rope was attached caused
the crank to reyolve with great rap
idity as it lowered, and rendered 1t
impossible to recover control of 1t.
AS the structure fell it bowed out on the
north side, the top falling towards the
south. One of the wOrkmen was standing
ON the top of the ground section, ana re-
manned. escaping without INJURY. Inc
others ran from the tower as 1t careened
over to a safe distance, and no injuries
were received except by the c0lOred boy,
who failed to escape before beng struck.
Those in charge of the work have been
severely criticized by some ana the as
aster attributed to carelessneSs. ms,
however. seems not to have been the case,
and the greatest precautlOn mas Deeh
taken To avoid any possible casualty. MIR.
Mills has endeayOred to keep the children
away from the towers during the pro-
gress of the work, and has repeatedly
given warning of the danger that they
incurred bv running under the structures.
He has been in the business over a year,
and Yesterdays accident was the nrst OF
anv significance that has occurred during
that time.
The eight towers thus far completed III
Savannah have been erected with great
care and the slightest mishap has.not oc-
CURED. The occurrence was telegraphed
at once TO the headquarters of the Tubu-
lar Tower Company at Detroit. Michigan
The work will be proceeded with without
delay. and by noon to-day the four sec
tiOns erected at the time Of the falling Will
again be in position.