Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-10-03
FALL OF 4 Bie DRAsIok.
Narrow Escape From - Catastrophe
ON Market street.


little after midnight Friday night the
derrick stationed At the eastern end OF the
new Central Bank Building at Market and
Fifth streets, suddenly fell but was caught
half way In its descent by tce numerous
electric and telephone wires intersecting
the street at that point. The brunt OF the
fall was broken by the derrick poles first
contact with Il heavy arc wire which gave
way In turn In contact with other electric
wires which caused the arc wire TO burn
through. The big pole then rested on the
other wires. II stood at an angle OF 45o
pointing 80, sage Contractor John b. john
son, that had the wires given way the der.
rick would have crashed into the second
story OF the Clayton House opposite COM
pletely bridging the street.
The pressure Of immsnse derrick causing
contact of different electric wires caused
an Immediate brilliant Illumination. Col.
hIlo W. Locke who occupies rooms In the
Clayton House whose location on the
second floor of the Motel was In direct line
of the poles descent was aroused by the
bright Illumination. "Thers was 10 noise"
the colonel said, "but u Sudden light In my
room us bright as IL a score of arc lights
had been suddenly lit. Thought IL was
lightning at first and then great are. But
1t went out so quickly aud all was dark
aud quiet again, that went to sleep with
out thinking more OF it,"
Late as 1t was quite crowd gathered to
gaze and speculate on the odd but at the
same time terrifying spectacle Of what the
catastrophe might have been had the i'm
mense pole crashed Into the Clayton House.
The sight impressed every one with the
necessity of more careful oversight OF street
constructions of that nature. The police,
including 5ergeants Blackburn, Tucker,
Btetser, and Special Officer Smith, imme-
diately patrolled the vicinity of the acct
49,. 4, h
strict watch around the locality.
Contractor John b. johnson and also the
Wilmington City Electric Co. were quickly
notified. On their arrival an investigation
Tas made. 1t was found that ono Of the
main guys which braced the big derrick
from inclining eastward had been tam
bered with and loosened from its cleat. OBJ
Niously 1t was done by some thoughtless or
meddlesome parties having no idea what
ever Of the terrific consequences OF their
acts. Notwithstanding suggestions, usual
on such occasions, OF certain parties hav-
ing been seen loahng around the neighbour
hood of the derrick, the blame has been
fixed upon no one. Superintendent william
i IL. Sinex left the derricks thoroughly Sc
cure at p. m. and again visited them ut II
D. M, when they were also secure, MIR.
johnson, with the aid OF several OF his men
and Rlggers Bruce, Delaney aud johnson,
went to work, and by 2 u. IN. had the der
RICK back in Its old position securely fixed.
Meantime the linemen also had temporarily
arranged their wires.
Saturday morning Contractor johnson
secured the services OF a Waterman who
will be present every night to guard the
darricks.
"For the future" exclaimed Colonel Locke
81 am In favor Of overhead wires. You eee
they have saved US from a big calamity"
Colonel Locke thinks however that the
opportunity for thorghtless people med
ding with the guy cleats could be readily
obviated by the contractors doing as is
i accomplished In other cities Of sinking
stout posts for leverage having them firmly
/, ballaeted and then tieing the guy ropes &c
them some 10 or IL feet above ground out
Of the way Of passers by.