Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-12-29
]. R. HINES FATE.
Yesterdays Disaster at the
Bridge.
The Cor Oner'r Inquest ON the Re.
maiUs OF the UpfOriunate
YOaDg Man-How IL Hap
psn"d.

The inquest on the remains OF j. r
Hines. the workman in the employ of the
Phoenix Bridge company, killed at the
Rock Island visduct late yesterday Of err
noon. as brit fly detailed in last evenings
ARGUS. was conducted by Coroner Halves
last evening, before a jury composed of
Charles E Hodgson. foreman. Phil. Mil
Ter. c. E. Evans, G. A. M4rtin, E. s.
Bowman and l.. V. Eckhsrt.
| The first witness examined was F. o.
| Taylor, of Scranton, Pa, assistant fore
man of bridge construction for the Phoe-
nix Bridge company, who testified that
at 80 yesterday afternoon a crew was
engaged raising the point of the FIRST
| span Of the Rock Island wagon bridge.
The deceased was standing on the first
pier out from the shore, following up
the work of raising with blocking, when
pin broke, aud a piece of casting broke
at the same time, which was thrown in
sucn manner that it struck Hines in The
right temple, thr owing him through
the bridge and to the frozen sur
face below, distance of about
IS feet. Mr.. TAYLOR testified that Mr..
Hines was in the proper discharge of his
duty, and that in his opinion. the tools
and implements were in good shape and
condition, and he knew of no reason for
th,ir breaking.
DR.. W. II. Ludewig testified to being
summoned to the bridge, and driving
there with DR.. Barth, found the man
dead. DR.. Bernhardi had preceded
him. and INVITED him to make
an examination. 1t was found that the
deceased had sustained wound about
tie right angle of the right eye. the parts
being much swollen and discolored, and
q fracture of the frontal bone was found.
William Lewelyn, fe.lew workman OF
the deceased. also of Pnoenixville, Pa.,
stated that he was near Mr.. Hines when
the break occurred, but caught an iron
rod and thus broke the force of the fall,
and then dropped on down. He quickly
recovered himself. and picking Zines UP
10 his arms. found him not dead but uR-
conscious. and carried him to the tool
house where he died within Is minutes.
Frank P. Rossler. of Phoenixville,
corroborated F. o. Taylor's testimony.
He had known Hines since he was one
year old. He was single man and al
ways resided at Phoenixvile.
n c. Taylor, of Scranton, foreman of
construction of bridges from the Phoenix
company. testified that the accident was
caused by a pin breaking, the whole
weight Of the bridge being thrown upon
the other side, thereby causing an iron
bed plate to break. aud q piece OF which
flew aud hit Hines in the head, causing
fatal injuries. The whole weight of
the bridge, witness thought, was $50
tons.
The jury after hearing this testimony
returned verdict that R. Hines came
to his death by being ruck by piece
of iron caused by pin breaking while
raising bridge for the Phoenix Bridge
company, at Rock Island, H., on tie
2Sth day OF Dec mber, 1891"
The remains were taken in charge BY
Supt. Taylor, who sent them to Knoxs
undertaking rooms for preparation for
shipment to Phoenixyille, where they
they will be sent by Mr.. Taylor for burial
in chsrs of William LeweIlyn, who fell
with the unfortunate man. but who saved
himself by grssping an iron rod.