Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1897-04-29

DEATH OF JOSEPH CHEW.

While at Work Vessel Falls Upon Him
and He is Almost Instantly
Joseph Chew, young man twenty
SIX years of age, met almost instant and
horrible death on Tuesday, life being
crushed out of him by the fall of a heavy
vessel.
The sloop Starlight" a tidy little
craft, has been overhauled and gayly re-
painted, while lying ont on the shore,
directly south of the Standard Oil Com
pany property, on Grove street. The
vessel belongs to Assessor Daniel Gem
try, of the Second ward.
me repairs have all been completed,
and Israel @. Evan, the contractor, was
engaged on Tuesday in removing the
craft to the waters Of the Cohansey.
A plank track had been laid leading to
the water and the sloop had been raised
upon rollers. To assist in the work were
gang OF men, among whom was Joseph
Chew, brother-in law of Ewaus The
contractor and Chew were working under
the vessel, arranging the rollers. Evan
was at the stern of the starlight" while
Chew was working forward
While the vessel was being pushed
toward the water, it was kept in an up
right position by guy lines leading from
the peaks OF the mast. The guy lines
were each in charge of man, and their
business was to keep the ropes taut. Both
fho \
boat.
| The high winds made it somewhat diff
ficult to keep the boat upon the narrow
| keel, and special vigilance should have
| been used upon the part of the men,
and some of the men about the boat
thought that blocks might have been
placed under the vessel to have pre-
vented her keeling over.
While Evan and Chew were thus al
work arranging the rollers. the boat sud
denly and without an instant's warning
careened over toward the south. Evan
! felt the craft brush against his shoulder
and leaped out of danger. Poor Chew
was not SO fortunate. He was crouchine
! or lying face downward, and the heavy
/ bulk pinned him to the plank track un.
derneath. The whole weight of the vesse
was brought to bear upon his head and
shoulders.
4 So sudden was the accident that there
was not sound or groan from the un.
fortunate young man. and those about
the boat would not have known he was
hurt had they not seen the awful accident
In less than minute they had pushed
the weight of the boat away from the
prostrate form, and had raised the injured
body and carried it some little distance
from the boat.
Messengers for physicians were hur.
rledly sent for and DIR. Sites was first
to put in an appearance. He was quickly
followed by DIR. Appellate ard DIR. Davis.
These skillful men saw at glance that
the poor fellow was beyond human aid.
There was absolutely no pulse, while the
heart beats were but little more than a
nutter, The breathing was superficial
and came in gasps. Blood was pouring
from ears and mouth, indicating most
severe internal hemorrhages. A deep
cash was noticeable upon the right side
of the head.
Ihere was absolutely nothing for the
physicians to do. and in a very few
moments, without regaining conscious
ness, poor Chew died lying on some
blankets, surrounded by crowd of
curious and solemn-faced people.
Officer Woodruff Immediately assumed
charge OF the body awaiting the arrival
OF County Physician Thompson.
Chew lived with Mr.. Evan, mis- parents
peing dead, and has for sometime been
engaged IN assisting in moving buildings.
County Physician Thompson made a
careful examination of the dead body,
when ne was notified of the fatal acci-
oent. There was not a single bone in the
pody broken and the skull was not
crusHeo. Ihe internal plate was broken
ana death resulted as stated from inter-
nal hemmorrhages. The boat evidently
caught Chew in the back of the head at
the base of the skull.
After removing the body the County
PHYSICIAN made a careful investigation
OF the cause of the death, and was salts
neo that 1t was the result of accident, and
deemed an inquest unnecessary. The
oooy was then removed to the home of
Mr. EVAN, on North Pearl street.
X. E. M. Sick Fund.
The third annual meeting of the X. E.
M. Sick Fund Society was held on Tues
day, April 18th. Reports were read by