Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-24
A FATAL ASCENSION.
Mr.. ALFRED s. BACON KILLED WHILE
RIDING IN AN ELEVATOR.
1t IL Supposed that His Hend Got Caught
Between the Floor and Carriage-A
Painters Terrible Fall.

Mr.. Albert s. Bacon, the superintendent
of the Richmond Paper-Mill. located on
Arch street near Ninth, met with shock
ing death on the elevator of that establish
ment yesterday morning.
The particulars connected with the sad
accident are not thoroughly understood
even by those employed in the mill. About
8 O'clock one of the colored hands engaged
in working rag-machine on the third
floor happened to turn his head towards
the elevator, which was then moving
slowly upwards, and there. stretched ont
upon the floor. lay Mr.. Bacon. Calling
for help the man fastened to stop the car
riage. and by this time several other opera
tives had come TO his assistance. but II was
then too late TO do any good. for 1t was
Immediately discovered that Mr.. Bacon
was dead.
HIS HEAD ALMOST SEVERED.
The deceased was often subject 70 bad
attacks of vertigo, and when he was first
seen lying PROSTATE on the moving ma
chine it was thought that he had been
seized with this complaint. Investigation
proved. however that his throat was cut
almost from ear to ear while the head was
nearly severed from his body.
Ii is supposed that while the elevator
was In motion. Mr.. Bacon stuck his head
out and was caught between the floor and
the timbers of the carriage; or, more
probably he was stricken with vertigo and
fell IN position which caused his head to
be caught III such way as to make the
wound.
MIR. Bacon was seen few minutes before
the fatal mishap and spoke TO some one
concerning a matter connected with the
work of the establishment. He had ridden
upon the elevator hundreds OF times and
was we'll acquainted with Its WORKING.
The machine always moves slowly, but IT
hardly seems probable that the deceased
would have been imprudent enough 10 go
near its edge unless he had been attacked
with dizziness.
40 INQUEST HELD.
As soon "a it was ascertained that no.
thing could be done for him. Coroner lay
lor was sent for and viewed the remains:
The circumstances concerning the de
mise of the man, while comparatively
obscure, evidently indicated that IT was
an accident, and no inquest will be held;
son of Mr.. Bacon, who has charge OF
the rag department, was. in the factory
when his father was killed. TIE sad news
was conveyed 20 the wife of the deceased,
aud she was overwhelmed with grief.
THE DECEASED.
Mr.. Bacon was about ffty-nine years OF
age and had been superintendent OF the
mill for twenty years. always discharging
the duties of the position with energy aud
fidelity. He was well known and very
popular. He was born in Norwich, Conn,
and came 10 this city shortly before his
connection with the paper company;
Deceased resided in Manchester, and
leaves q wife and three children-two sons
and a daughter. His eldest child, Mr;
Nathan B. Bacon, as has been mentioned
above, Is also employed at the factory.
FrichtfuI Fall of Painter.
Mr.. Alfred B. Webster, painter at work
upon the south side of Ford's Hotel, was
hurled forty-five feet through the air by
| the SHINING of a scaffOld yesterday morn.
| ing and dashed to the ground. receiving
| terrible injuries, which may result fatally
At the time of the accident Mr.. Webster
| was standing on the swinging platform, Oh
| stage as ii Is called, which was hanging vi
| front of one of the tOp-stOry WINDOWS.
MIR. French. one of the contractors for re-
painting the building, was on the ground
below engaged III pulling upon the staging
with a rope, while the unfortunate victim
was assisting him from his dangerous
perch.
THE TIMBER SLIPPED.
By some means the edging of the plat
| form fsrthest from Webster shipped
| through the moose rope which holds IT
| and dashed the painter downwards, Will
| the staging also followed. The Woo
| reached the ground first. as the unfortu
| nate man was holding rope at the time
| and in his horrible transit through the al
| he perhaps struck the iron balcony OF the
| hotel two stories below.
| Several persons passing Witnessed th'
scene. and together with Mr.. French, who
| was unhurt, hastened to render assistance
| To the poor fellow, who presented u SICK
| ening picture. The bones IN both leg
were fractured above the knee. while hi
| nose was split from top TO bottom.
CHANCE FOR RECOVERY.
| The city ambulance was summoned a.
| ouickly as possible and the sufferer taker
| TO the Retreat for the Sick. He was par
| partially conscious and exonerated Mr
| French from any blame III the matter
| Later in the afternoon he was put undel
| the influence of oplates. The physicians
at the Retreat, while they cannot as ye
| ascertain the exact extent OF his injury
think there is chance for his recovery.
| Webster is about twenty-fOur years o
| AGE and unmarried. He Is Il lourneymai
employed by Mr.. j. w. Crawley, q con
tracing painter, and resides at No. 6O
| Beverley street.