The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-08-16
A VERY BAD ACCIDENT.
Three Men Hurt Yesterday After
noon at the Top Mil
Blythe FALL OLA HEAVY IRON ROOF
David o'Leary may not Recover, but
tho others get or moro Fortunate-
Iy-The Workmen had beenWarued
Repeatedly Against careIessposs.
Nick Palmer Will BIO Laid up for
Some Time.

Yesterday shortly afternoon serious
accident occurred at the casting house
OF the Top mill blast furnace, but under
the circumstances the only wonder is
that it was not still more serious. AS
it was, one man was dangerously and
one seriously hurt aud third slightly
injured.
Tie blast furnace is being rebuilt, and
in tearing down the old one 1t was nee
essary to cut away the glrders which
led from it, supporting the heavy iron
roof Of tho casting house. The first sec
ton Of thereof was removed, the re-
mainder being supported at the north
west corner by round iron pillar.
In shifting some heavy castings on
Monday this supporting pillar was
showed somewhat to one side at the
base, so as to be out OF plumb, and fear
ing that it might slip and tall, tho men
went to work yesterday to raise the roof
and place more secure props under 1t.
For this purpose a derrick was rugged
up and David 0'Leary climbed a ladder
to the roof to hitch u chain from the
boom OF the derrick 10 one OF the iron
beams OF the roof Nick Palmer stood
on the ladder, and Charles Wooster on
the floor OF the casting house below.
In manipulating tho heavy chain,
0Leary lot it slip from his hand,
and it fell against the slopIng pillar, its
weight causing the pillar to fall, and
this let the roof down suddenly.
0'Leary was thrown to aground a
distance OF twenty odd feet, Pulmer
was also thrown down with the ladder,
and one OF the falling pieces Of iron
struck Wooster on tho arm, shoulder
and side.
O'Leary was removed from the wreck
and carried on u board to his home in
the old row on North Main street, just
south Of the mill. The company's
officials summoned Drs. Garrison and
Ulrich at once. and they found O'Leary
suffering such intense pain that an
opiate was administered. His nose was
broken and cut and his cheek and jaw
badly hurt, so that they swelled out OF
all shape. His most dangerous wounds,
however, wero internal, in tho lower
part OF his abdomen, Blood issued
from his stomach, but whether this was
due to injuries in that part Of his sys-
tenn or was from the iniHfies in his
head could not be told. Late last night
he was lying in semi.consclous con-
dition, and the chances for his recovery
were reported bad.
Palmer had four ribs broken and
received wound on his left arm. He
will get we'll, but will DO laid up for sew
eral weeks. His homo is in Martins
Ferry, and he was removed there in
care Of DR.. Garrison.
Wooster was stunned for minute or
two, but then came around all right and
was able to walk home. His arm,
shoulder and side, bruised by falling
iron, were all the injuries he received.
Mr.. Hornbrook, OF the mill office,
told an INTELiiGEScER reporter that the
men had been cautioned about the
danger Of the work several times, but
did not seem to realize it. Fortunately
no others OF the many men about the
place were under the roof, or the conse-
quences must have been much more
serious.
Exaggerated reports Of the disaster
were soon afloat down town, and when
the real facts were known they caused
sense of relief that the result was not
worse.