The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-17
A THREE-TON STONES FALL
IT MAD BEEN HoISTED To TEE
TOR OF TALL TOWER.

0ne Mas KILLED 0utright sss Another
Ptnaed 60 = RoOr-Ths Accident Csuses
~ the Puiiiue Up OF Guy Rspe stake.
Some workmen employed on st. Johns new
Catholic Church, which is being erected on Nell
son avenue and Van Wrinkle street, Jersey City,
were engaged just before noon yesterday In
hoisting three-ton granite block into place.
when one Of the guy ropes Of the derrick gave
way. causing the instant death Of one man and
the probably mortal injury Of another The
block is to he the capstone Of the tower and
above II will be the steeple The tower
has reached an elevation OF 11s feet. The
derrick used for hosting the stone stands
about ten feet above that and Is worked by
steam engine. The derrick is steadied by ropes
stretching out in different directions and fast
cned to stakes driven into the ground. One Of
the stakes was In the new boulevard which runs
along in front Of the church. The stone was
hosted and was about to be lowered into place
Oh the tower when the great strain pulled up
the stake in the boulevard. The derrick and
stone swung around.
Thomas O'Neill was standing on the scaffold
holding one guy rope and Thomas Gibbons on
the roof holding another. Their attention had
been attracted by cry from below. but II was
too late to save themselves. ONeill chung to
his rope. and as the stone swung away from him
he was dragged from the scaffold and hurled TO
inc kTOUNu. lie yell On MS nenu anu u was
found afterwarl that his skull was fractured
and his neck broken. Death was instan tnneous.
The stone and the derrick fell over on the roof
OF the main building with a crash. The derrick
knocked Gibbons down, and the stone fell on his
feet, pinning him to the roof so that he was un-
able TO move. workman named Gibley
escaped the stone by swinging Oft on a rope.
Father Ter Woert. the rector Of the church, and
his assistant, Father Kelly. FASTENED from the
parqchial residence to the scene Of the accident.
Father Ter WOcrt gave his attention to O'Neill
while Father Kelly climbed up the series Of
ladders to the Assistance of (iiDtgDuS
II was nearly three hours before Gibbons was
released from his painful situation. All the
Morkmen on the building went to his assistance
He was crying for his mother and sister, and his
appeals to his fellow wOrkmen to get him out
were piteous. a temporary derrick had to be
rugged and ropes and puleys brought up from
the ground. Father Kelly remained with the
sufferer during the entire time. affordinR him
such comfort as he could. Two or three doses of
brandy were taken UP and given to Gibbons.
Word had been sent to the Oakland avenue
police station and Capt. Newton, with a
the scene. Truck Company also responded to
a call for help. and with their ropes and ladders
rendered valuable assistance.
At 30 The heavy hOne had been lifted to n
Gibbons, and he was carefully lowered to the
ground by means of ropes. lie was then taken
TO 81. Francis HOspta1. 1t was found that he
had received compound fracture of both legs
There was said tn be n very slight chance Of his
recovery.
O'Neiil's body was taken 20 his home at st.
Pauls avenue a nd Concord street. He leaves n
widow and five children, Gibbons lives with his
mother and sister at II Bevan street.
Henry Lyons of this city has the contract for
putting up the building. IL was said after the
accident that the ropes keeping the derrick IN
place were not securely fastened but those that
remained intact seemed TO he secure. County
Physician Converse will order an inquest.