Waco evening news. (Waco, Tex.) 1888-1889, 1888-10-02
HURLED TO DEATH.
A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT AT THE
NEW CITY HALL.

4NAs w VA 44AAAs
Details of the Soocking Calamity,
with Testimony at the
Inquest.
At about half past o o'clock, this
morning a NEWS reporter saw q
crowd of men at the new City Hall,
and on arriving at the scene, it needed
no telling TO see that a fatal accident
had occurred; the blood-stained
planks, the white awe-stricken coun-
tenances of the workmen, and the
low solemn conversation of the crowd,
told palmer than woods that q human
being had passed earth's portal.
The facts as near as could be col.
lected during the excitement, are as
follows:
Mr.. Frank Ulander and s. l..
Spikes, with two others, were en-
gagged in hosting some heavy tim
bers to be used In the tower, and for
this purpose had derrick erected on
the top of the building on the south
east side. Mr.. Ulander was on the
top while Mr.. Spikes was in window
In the second story. AS the heavy
timber slowly assembled to the second
story, 1t was suggested that Mr..
Spikes decend OH the rope to tighten
the load for the two men below. He
had no more than begun his descent
when the heavy derrick above tore
loose from its fastenings, and with
crash buried Mr.. Spikes beneath its
heavy timbers. Mr.. Ulander, who
was looking over from the cornice,
one story above Spikes, was here OBJ
served to fall partially over the cor.
nice. In a second or two he plunged
headlong, and fell with dull thud;
DAsHING HIS BRAINS OUT
upon the mass of debris ami timbers
upon the ground. Extrication proved
that Mr.. Spikes was still alive. Both
parties were tenderly lifted and con-
veyed to their homes.
Mr.. B. F. Corey, who was an eye
witness, said: II was standing at
Sol Rice's store OH the south side of
the square, when my attention was
attracted by crash, and I saw Mr..
Ulander hanging over the cornice
with his head down, he seemed to
me to have tainted, he hung III that
position a few moments, then seemed
to culver, and Immediately plunged
head foremost to the guound.
Mr.. G. r. Powell, who was at work
with Mr.. J. E. Ferris on the ground,
said: 1--WE usually have q horse to
elevate lumber, but as the workmen
needed some timber for the tower,
we started to pull 1t up by hand. Mr..
Ulander was on the top of the build
ing, standing by the derrick, ready
to swing the timber in and on to the
roof. Mr.. Spikes was in the second
story window assisting. Mr.. Ferris
and myself were on the ground. We
had hoisted the timber nearly to the
top, when Mr.. Spikes caught the rope
and suspended himself to it, to add
his weight to ours, as it assembled very
slowly, and in second the derrick
tore loose above and Spikes was i'm
mediately crushed with the falling
derrick. looked up to see if any
thing else was coming, and Mr.. Ulan-
der was lying on his breast half way
over the cornice; in second he also
fell, plunging head first upon the
fallen derrick, and MASKING his head
to a jelly"
A Coronor'ss inquest was held at
Justice Makeig's Office, but no new
facts were developed, and the verdict
is as follows:
Deceased come to his death from
the falling of derrick, and the cause
of the falling of the derrick Is un.
KNOWN"
The Carpenters Union held meet.
ing Immediately after the inquest,
and they passed resolutions deplor.
ing his loss. They took charge OF
his body ut the undertakers and es.
corted it to his residence at 8 p. m.
Mr.. Spikes is thought to be not SO.
riously injured, and will recover In q
few days unless injured internally.
Mr.. Frank Ulander of the firm Of
Ulander & Ulander, was about q
years old and unmarried. He had
lived In Waco some seven or eight
years, his brother and himself having
built up one of the largest contrac
tors business in the city, besides sup
porting widowed mother. Ee wa.
| a man Of n1onaaut Ooniol dtopneif inu