Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-09
MORE CARE NEEDED.
The Coroner's Jury Makes a Mild
Recommendation to Mr.. Malone,
TO PROTECT LIVES OF CITIZENS.
No Blame Attached 10 Anyone for the Death
of Thomas Carey.
MANSLAUGHTER In THE CORKEN CASE

The verdict of the Coroner's jury in the
case of Thomas Carey, who was killed by the
breaking of a detective derrick mast at the
Government building Saturday afternoon
last, was rendered yesterday afternoon. 1t
was to the effect that the mast was rotten,
and the accident was unavoidable. The ac-
cident was not blamed upon Superintendent
Malone, but that gentleman came in for con-
siderable censure at the hands of Coroner
Mcdowell The following is copy OF the
verdict:
"We, the jury, find that Thomas A.
Carey, aged 81 years, came to hls oeatn on
Saturday afternoon, May ), about z.So
O'Clock, by being thrown from platform OF
q derrick on the new Government building.
The accident was due to the breaking of the
masthead in said derrick, and was unfore-
seen. We recommend that more care and
caution be taken by the persons in charge,
so as to not only protect the workmen EN-
ployed on the building, but the public gen.
orally"
LoNG-UsED MAST.
In the testimony it was developed that the
mast had been used in the construction OF
the Harrisburg postofice and was brought
10 this city in 1883, when Mr.. Malone was
Superintendent, under President Arthur.
1t had been tested by boring auger hol es
through the wood to ascertain if 1t was
sound. Each test showed the wood to be in
good condition, and it was thought the mast
was perfectly safe for all heavy work. The
mast broke at point IA inches from where
the auger holes had been made.
Patrick Flanagan, an empleye on the
building, testified to the strength OF the der
rick. He said it had lifted two statues
NI-N soL
caused it to break down. He said the
system OF derricks on the building was as
good as any in the city. Joseph Kuhn also
testified that be thought the derrick was
SAFE. He never heard OF any one re using to
go to work on account of the derrick being
an old one. 1t was considered perfectly
safe by everyone employed about the bull
ding.
Henry Maloy testified to seeing the der
rick all and Carey jump to the chimney
from the platform. He was sure the man
had jumped and tried to hold on to one of
the guy wires for safety.
THE WEIGHT ON THE BOOM.
james Flaherty, a rigger, whose business
it is to attend to the derricks, said he had
been working on the building ever since
derricks were first used on the job. When
the derrick in question was brought to this
city he painted it be ore it was put up, aud
thought it was all right. The
old boom was taken out and a
new one substituted. When the statue was
being raised, the whole weight was on the
boom. Three-iourths OF the center of the
boom was detective from the top. A good
derrick should last II to Is yeaas. The one
in question had lifted stones IL to 19 tons in
weight. He thought the timber rotted by
water running into the mast on the bolts.
The witness said he had been employed in
the Government navy yards, and knew
something about derricks. The system in
Pittsburg was as good as any in the country.
j. C. Wilson, the well-known builder,
who has erected some of the highest build
ings in the city, testified to the quality of
the wood in the derrick. He put damp
ener on the testimony of the previous wit
ness by saying that be saw no signs of paint
on the mast which broke, nor did he see
signs of any putty having been used. The
rot, be said, could not have occurred in one
day or two. He thought if the derrick had
been examined six months before tine acci-
dent, the de ect would have been discovered
and the mishap would not have occurred.
Jacob Friday, another contractor, testified
TO the same effect.
The case then went to the jury, who rem
dered the above verdict.