Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-19
KILLED JUST IN FUN.
Fate of a Swedish Lad Who Labored
in the Braddock Steel Works.
THROWN UPON AN ORE ELEVATOR,
He Falls Over Twenty Feet and His Back
bone is Fractured.
DEATH AFTER SIX MONTHS OF AGONY

Charles Rudeman, Swedish lad of II
years, died at 4:30 o'clock yesterday after
noon at the Homeopathic Hospital, after
lying for over six months with q broken
backbone. His death will probably result
in the arrest of half dozen workmen of the
Edgar Thomson Steel Works to-day.
The lad came to this country about year
ago. He las no relatives here except an
uncle-Jay Person-who lives in Braddock
Going to his uncle's house he secured, by
his aid, employment as laborer about the
blast furnaces at Bessemer. He was an un-
sophisticated. ignorant boy, strong and will
ing to work. but his inability to speak En-
gIish well and his "green-horn" ways made
him the object of many practical jokes
among the rude workmen with whom he
mingled.
1t was on a Sunday that ne received the
injuries which resulted in his death. He
was working abou. one of the blast furnaces
on December last assisting in loading the
ore and coke on the cars which are carried
to the top OF the furnace or the elevators.
THE VICTIMS STORY.
The boys story is that just as enc of the
elevators was started upward he was seized
by four or five of the wOrkmen, big, strong
men, and thrown upon the elevator. Two
or three men were on the lift. and the bov
elevator had ascended for some distance, so
that he fell of. He tumbled headlong to the
ground, distance OF at least 20 feet, and lay
unable to rise. He fell prone upon his back,
and when lifted by those who ran to his rescue
he screamed with pain.
He was sent at once by Baltimore and Ohio
train to Pittsburg, and was conveyed by ambu-
lance to the Homeopathic Hospital. There he
was examined by DIR. Rumsey, who found that
the boy had suffered fracture of the lumbar
vertebre. The lad lay. in great anguish, week
In and week out. He was visited by his uncle
and by friends with whom he had boarded in
Braddock. The kindest conner to his bedside
who seemed most anxious to relieve his suffer
ings, was Rev. Mr.. Jonson. pastor of the Swed-
ish church in Bloomfield. The best of medical
skill and careful nursing could not save the
Scandinavian boy. He wasted away gradually.
His lower limbs were paralyzed and he became
a living skeleton.
DIED AT LAST.
About three weeks ago DIR. Rumsey gave it as
his opinion that Rudeman could not live. The
Coroner was notified, and he sent Stenographer
Donnelly to take the boys ante mortem state
ment. The sufferer gave clear account Of the
manner in which he received his injuries, but
he was not able to give the names of the men
who composed the gang working on the
furnace. Yesterday afternoon he died, and his
body was removed 10 the public morgue. What
disposition will be made of it has not been de-
terminec.
At IL o'clock this forenoon the Coroner will
begin an inquest. 1t is not expected that it
will be completed to-day. as it will doubtless
require considerable time to discover the men
who were responsible for the boys death.
Many witnesses must be examined. Coroner
Mcdowell Is determined to sift the matter to
the fullest extent possible. He does not be-
lieve in practical jokes of this nature.