Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-10
TWO WORKMEN BADLY INJURED.
They Fall With Wrecked Scaffold and
One or Both May Die.

A scaffold gave way yesterday afternoon and
it is possible that two men may die from the
injuries consequent UPON their falling more
than 80 feet in company with large quantity
of stone. The accident occurred on street,
between 18th and 18th streets, where Mr.. T. +.
Schneider is building a number of houses
Four men-John Colbert, foreman; Hugh Fer
guson, Philip Erbt, and Jas. Cody-were on
the scaffold engaged in the construction of one
Of the front walls. At one end Of the heavily
laden scaffold stood Ferguson and Erbt; in the
center was the pile OF stone, and on the other
end were Colbert and Cody. Foreman Colbert
was the first to see that the scaffold was giving
way, and he at once shouted warning to the
others to save themselves, and at same
time taking sure hold upon q solid piece Of
timber which was not connected with the fall
ing structure. Cody jumped to the ground and
escaped with a few bruises, but Erbt and Fer
guson, beneath whose feet the scaffold COM
menced to give way,
WENT DOWN WITH THE WRECK.
Erbt struck the ground in such manner az
to break both OF his arms and to tear the flesh
of his left wrist, where the bones suffered
severe fracture. One Of his ribs was broken
and he was shaken up internally. Erbt il
about fifty-two years Of age. Ferguson was
unconscious when taken out Of the debris
His skull was slightly fractured and his scalp
was TORN IN several places. Aspralned arm and
a severe injury to his back were also among
the painful catalogue Of his injuries. Both men
were taken to the Emergency hospital and
were attended to by Drs. j. Ford Thompson,
Gill and Ellyson. Erbt was removed to his
home, 225 10th street southeast He is married
and has several children. Ferguson, still un-
conscious, was taken to Providence hospital,
where he now lea His residence is No. S26
Maryland avenue southwest. He 10 married
and has two children Both injured men are
stone-masons. Colbert was removed from his
perch in mid-air by the aid Of ladder.
TIE MEN MUCH IMPROVED TO-DAY.
The two men-Hugh Ferguson and Philip
Erbt--were much better this afternoon than
any one supposed they would be. Mr.. FerRu-
son had improved so much that be was removed
this morning from Providence hospital to his
home, 1875 Maryland avenue, where he lies in .
darkened room. The trip from the hos
pital to his home did not do him
any good but he feels as though
he will be all right in few days. His back,
which was badly bruised, hurts him : rood
deal and the slight fracture Of his skull l. also
painful. He told . SrAR reporter that the
scaffold was not overloaded with stone
THE scAFFoLD ITSELF WAS WEAK.
1t was built, he said. by couple Of colored
men, and the masons supposed IL was safe; but
they never examined IL to see whether IL was 20
Mr.. Erbs, with his two arms broken, l. At his
sss ds. ''s Of ' p:n NJ : m ss.,
man, but he displays great dssi
Of fortituds, and his mouth IL kept
tightly closed most Of the time. He rsssns
the imputation that the masous were 70
snS for S.e,. the falling Of , The ''.s
not heavy load Of stone upon IT, II was, he
said 70 erAl reporter, TIE fault q Ne colorsd
men who built u