The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-10-17
MASHED BETWEEN TIMBERS.
A DREDGE MATES HEAD GROUND
ALMOST INTO & PULP.

He Was Trying TO Swing a Heavy
Spud on the Alabama Into the
water when It swung Around and
Mashed His Life out Almost In
stantIy-The Alabama Here for
RepairS-The BODY shipped Il
Brunswick.
John johnson. the mate on the dredge
Alabama, lying near the Vale Royal
wharves up the river was almost i'm
stantly killed yesterday. his head being
caught between stationary and a
swinging timber. and mashed almost
into jelly.
The Alabama. which belongs 10 Ritten-
house Moore q Co. OF Mobile. has been
doing some work al Port Royal ana was
towed over here last Saturday in order
that she might Doe put on the ways for
repairs. before going TO Brunswick.
which win be- her next stopping point. In
order TO tighten the dreige il was taken
up the river TO a point near the Vale
Royal wharf and was anchored there
while some machinery was being remov-
ed in order 10 tighten it,
Having completed this work prepare
tious were being made to take the dredge
over TO the marine railway. The spud,
which held il in place. a large heavy
timber, IS inches square and about As feet
long. was drawn up. 1t was held 10y a
chain which was used in pulling 10 mp,
and at the time of the accident about
twenty feet of il was hanging over the
rear of the dredge in the water, while
the other part of 1t was above the
dredge. The spud was slanting down
ward and resting on the rear Of the
dredge Right near where the spud was
hanging was a frame work known as
the air frame.
johnson went to work TO get the spud
of into the water in the rear of the
dredge. He was using crowbar, ana
began prying at II where IL was resting
on the body of the dredge. The spud
was top heavy, or IN some manner fouled
above him, so that when he applied the
lever TO il. IL swung around quickly ana
with Considerable momentum. His head
was caught between the heavy timber
and the air frame, and crushed into a
capt. Smith Of the dredge and the crew
Were standing by and witnessed the hOrri-
BILE accident. 1t happened too quickly, how
ever, to be avoided. They hurried 10 as
sist johnson, but his wounds We're OF
such a nature that nothing could be done
for him. one Of them fastened to call
a physician. and Drs. w. W. owens and
IT, -
they arrived. however, johnson was dead.
The accident, IL appears. was the fault
of no one. unless Of the victim. 1t is said
that il was someone clse's work he was
attending 10 at the time. Coroner Goette
was summoned at once and made an in
VeStigation Of the case. He obtained sub
stantially the facts above stated from the
captain and other members Of the crew
on the dredge, and decided that no inquest
was necessary. as no further facts with
regard to Johnsen's death could have
been brought out 10y a formal inquiry.
Coroner GOette took charge of the body
and prepared il for burial He shipped it
IN the afternoon. via the Florida Central
and Peninsular railroad. 10 Brunswick,
which IS johnson home.
johnson is a Norwegian by birth. but
has been in this country about ten years
He has been working on the Alabama as
mate for the last ten months. He leaves
q wife in Brunswick. but no children. The
dredge VIII be repaired here and taken 10
Brunswick, where IL has been engaged for
some work.