Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-31
A FATAL ACCIDENT.
The Breaking of a Derrick Kills One
Man and Injuries Others.

A fatal accident occurred on PENNSYLVANIA
avenue between 9th and 10th streets about 1
O'Clock yesterday afternoon. II was the result
OF an attempt to raise an immense stone with a
derrick that had been heightened out for the
purpose by the use of piece of exc pine tim
Der. The accident took place in front of the
new building in course of erectiod by the Safe
Deposit company. A scafold runs along the
front OF the building. The top of the scaffoid
is about twenty-five feet from the ground.
Bricklayers and stonemasons were at work on
the top landing yesterday at the time the acct
dent happened. The stone that was being
hoisted weighed probably two tons, and this
weight came with full force on the piece of
pine used to lengthen the derrick. When the
stone reached the top wall upon which it was
to be placed, the piece of pine timber snapped.
THE HEAVY STONE FELL
and part of the scaffold went to the ground
with ii, the poles supporting it swapping like
pipe stems The stone which was to be placed
on the wall over the second-story window was
being landed by Mr.. John L. Acker, a stone
mason, who was standing ON the scaffold. John
Lyons and Charles Fredericks were beneath
and in front of the scaffold When the derrick
broke Mr.. Acker was carried to the ground a
distance of twenty-five feet, and covered with
the debris. The laborers employed about the
building fastened to remove the broken tim
beers and rescue Mr.. Acker.
FATALLY INJURED.
Mr.. Acker, when he had been extricated was
removed to the emergency hospital. where he
was found to have been MORALLY injured. The
back of his skull was crushed and his nose and
right jaw bone were broken His neck was
also injured and probably broken. He re-
manned unconscious until about AS o'clock,
when he died
Fredericks sustained severe cut on one
hand. Lyons received an ugly cut on the top
of the head.
Mr.. Acker was about sixty years old. and
lived at No; III 4th street southeast. He was
brother of the late Nicholas Acker His re-
mains were removed from the hospital TO his
home. The deceased leaves a wife and several
children.
1t was stated today that Mr. Acker was
warned not to remain on the scaffold while the
stone was being hOIsted, but he said that the
scaffold was secure enough to hold him and
the stone.
The police made an inspection of the broken
timbers, and thinking it was u case that called
for an investigation of some kind, the facts
were communicated to Coroner Patterson, who
determined to hold an inquest.
He had jury summoned which met at the
first precinct station at las today and went to
the house Of deceased to view the remains.
G.. H. Norton. who was in charge of the brick
work, was the first witness examined
He said he suggested to Mr.. Acker Thursday
evening that the stone be raised on the elevator
inside the building, but Mr.. Acker said he was
going to raise it outside. He did not
know by whose direction the derrick
was used in the condition it was in.
Policeman Hollinberger said that he was at
the building this afternoon and he was in
formed that the timber which had been at
tached to the derrick had been taken away
Wilmot Lake and G. n. Morris. carpenter.
were examined as to the size of the timber.