Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-11-08
A WRECK In mild AIR.
WOrkmen Killed and Injured by
Peculiar Accident.
a Car Load of Granite Falls With
Shocking Results.

The great cable used for transporting
granite blocks overhead across gulch at the
Seldom Dam on the new Croton Aaueduct
in New York broke under the strain of
heavy load The accident occurred over the
heads of a gang of thirty or forty Italian
laborers. and the terrified men were in flight
when the great mass of stone and iron was
descending 10 the ground. Two, however
were caught and crushed to death. their re-
mains being unacceptable as human bodies,
and six Of their companions were injured
some fatally, by flying pieces of granite and
wood.
The Sodom Dam is about two miles out of
Brewsters, III the village of SOdOm. 1t is de-
signed to be storage reservoir for New York
city, and the water is TO cover 1870 acres
by far the largest reservoir in that section of
the country. The valley in which the dam
is situated is bounded on each side by lofty
hills. The dam is to be of granite, l25 feet in
height sixty feet wide at the top and $50 feet
wide at the bottom
Across the valley Immediately above the
stone work was stretched the cable of wire
either side and was buried deep in the hill
side with the best of anchorage. 1t had been
In use since the work began, and was origin
ally capable of bearing a weight of ten tons.
A swinging car was arranged to run Que
across the cable from either side This car
was used to transport building material
granite cement, tools, etc.-but the wOrilmen
were never allowed to ride in it. BY means
of guy rope catch could be thrown off and
the car lowered TO any part of the work.
A car was sent from the west side loaded
with two huge blocks of granite weighing
two and a half tons each. 1t ran as usual
until over the place at which a gang of thir-
ty OF forty Italians were at work lay .ng the
stones.
AS the car neared the men the crowd of
spectators on the west side began to shout,
having noticed that the strands of the cable
were parting. Those near the work were
alarmed and took up the shout. The work
men attempted to escape but the car was by
this time over them and was descending with
lightning speed.
There scattering for dear life and
many succeeded in escaping the falling mass
which moment later crashed upon the
stOne-wOrk. The great blocks of granite
were splintered and the fragments few in all
directions
A cry on horror went up from the crowd
as they two of the unfortunate work
mex, paRalyzed with fear, throw themselves
fiat on the ground A second afterward a
horrible shower of brood, brains and splint-
cred bones was thrown out but the sight
was merclfully almost hidden by the great
clouds of dust Rocks were thrown among
the companions of the unfortunate men and
number of them, with several of the
lockers who stood fifty wards away. fell
bleeding The broken cable squirmed like
thing of life, and several men were struck by
it and knocked senseless
AS soon as the dust cleared away the terri
lied wOrkmen approached the place. They
were Mortified at the spectacle. Blood was
OoZing from underneath the car. Derricks
were procured and the mass Of stone was
lifted When the car was hauled off the
bodies were found to be crushed beyond
all resemblance to human beings. They
were left as they lay, and the wounded were
removed TO tqmDOrarV n19rtprS