Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-09
DEAD IN THE clTY-HALL BOILER.
John Bolton Killed by Suhocation and

John Bolton Killed by Suffocation and
George Tenser Narrowly Escapes
For Gods sake, turn over this boiler!
] am dying"
These were the words. uttered in feeble
and suppressed tone Of voice, that greeted
Nr. John Grimes when. at o'clock yester-
day morning. he went to the pressure-tank
being erected on top of the new City Hall
hy the Richmond Locomotive and Ma
chluc-WOrks.
AZ FIRST Mr.. Grimes thought some of the
workmcu were playing joke on him; but when
"A moment Inter he cav the feet and limbs OF a
man projecting from the boiler he realized that
something awful had happened
Lighting a match and drawing nearer the tank
Mr. Grimes Was hOrrincd 10 mud that the limbs
were those Of John Bolton, who had died while
cudeayorng 10 crawl through the opening from
the inside of the boiler, where he had been
TIMELY RESCUE
A further search inside the boiler revealed the
BODY Of George Teuser, who was partially I'M
conscious, and IL was no who had called TO
Grimes for help. The tank IN which the men
were at work MAS contracted loI WIN V,ls DIO-
theirs, OF New York, and that firm sublet the
work t1 the Richmond LOcOmOtivc-Norks Tho
tank is II feet In length and ~ feet In
diameter. Under the bottom IS "A manh0le,
which ia The only opening OF any size.
Tuesday morning Bolton and Ionser begun tho
work OF painting the inside with preparation OF
which turpcutine was the chief ingredient. Ihey
cluc out az the u o'clock dinner-hour aud re
termed whcn the hands resumed work at /
O'Clock. subsequently Bolton went TO the Loco
motlvc-Works for more paint and returned 10
li- work about o'clock.
STIFF N DEATH.
Tho mon employed on the building quit work
40 quarter o. o'clock, ana 10 was not until yes
terdaV morning at half past that IL was ascer-
tanned that Bolton and Tenser had been III the
tank al night Mr.. Grimes, who hrst made tue
discovery, AZ once communicated win Mr' Q. q,
bates. assistant City Engineer, ana they followed
ls many Oi the WOrkmen, ascended 10 the Top OF
mo bIuliug whore the tanks were and At
tempted % remove the body OF Bolton. HIS
a.. Lows. which were caught on the inside OF The
tsub we're s'id and IL was with great difficulty IL
Wa gotten out.
HOW TENsER WAS AFFECTED.
While Bclton's body was being taken out a
candle was passed to Tenser, who was requested
fl.frnfgtrp the arms OF his companion, but he
v.- sp da1cd he could render no assistance, ana
Bottoms body had 10 be pulled out by man
strength. Tcnser was then brought out ana
1.e fresh air seemed 70 rowe nun. lie was uil-
ODD. 90 give any account OF what had happened
I.t said repeatedly that he felt as II he had been
drunk Tor p long time.
TIE CORONER VIEWS THE BODY.
Coroner Taylor, upon being notified, went 10
ttr city Hall and made an examination OF the
Tank and underworld TO obtain Information ron
I,u-.r. but he failed 10 elicit anything OF I'M
Iartuure. Dr. TAYLOR also viewed the body OF
Bolton. ana from the circumstances surrounding
Dis death decided that II Was caused by sunoca-
lion, and deemed an inquest unnecessary. Inc
tUIy was delivered 70 the family OF the deceased
o. te prepared for burial.
Tynser was sent home in the city ambulance.
Tie DISPATCH received information last night
THAT his mind was seriously affected.
HOW TENsER ESCAPED.
II rs generally believed that when the pen In
side the tank began 10 feel the effects Of the paint
Bolton attempted 20 gel ont, ana his body be-
came wedged IN tho manhOie, and being over
come ne had not the power % escape thetetfOm.
Tenser finding all means OF exit closed, laid
with his face near the pipe-holeso OF the tank, ana
thur got enough fresh air 20 keep him alive un-
"a his cries for help reached the ears oil MI
Grimes.
Whcn tho news Of Beltons death was received
al tho Locomotive Works, General Manager
Bayis. Mr.. Woody, and Mr.. Delaney fastened 10
the City Hall and rendered all the assistance IN
their power,
BODY BADLY BURNED.
Young Relton, who was Just eighteen years
old had been employed at tho LocOmotiye-N0rks
fsy several years and was under Instructions
though not a regular apprentice. One Of his
brothers said % a DISPATCH reporter last night
that the face OF the deceased was very badly
burned, and he believed the breaking OF the
globes Of the electric lamps by which the Interior
81 tue boiler was lighted caused an explosion
which added 20 the danger TO which the paint
odor subjected the men.
BoltOn'H funeral viii take place al v O'clock
to-mOrrOw morning from bis late residence, NO.
I0l1 north Seventeenth street.