The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-06-01

Gus Johnson was killed yesterday
morning about O'Clock by having a
derrick weighing 500 pounds fall on MIN.
while in the act of changing the derrick
from one position 10 another.
Johnson and HartIe had the contract
for the brick work on the new building
being erected by Henry Schweiter at
507 East Douglas avenue. The building
was already up 70 one story and the sec
ond was being started. Mr.. Johnson
climbed Up On the derrick which is
about twelve feet high 10 unite some
guide ropes. Mr.. Hartle was standing
on the brick wall just above him with
rope in his hand which was tied to the
derrick Mr.. Johnson had loosened
some Of the ropes, while some Of the Ia
bOrers had taken the boom-a square
piece of timber-from The derrick. The
boom held the derrick in place. Before
ii was removed ropes had been wrapped
around some Of the iron columns 70 hold
il IN place and 10 make 1t more con-
venient 10 take the derrick down Mr..
johnson had put rope about one Of
the columns while he was in his elevat-
ed position. He thought it was secure
and started 70 fix another rope, while
three men held the lower part of the
derrick at the bottom. All Of sudden
the derrick started 10 fall toward the
street, one Of the ropes having been in
securely tied. He was on the top and
held fast. The cross bar Of the derrick
struck him across The breast and crush
ed the breast bone His head hit the
pavement and cracked the occipitaI
bore ard part OF the left parietal bone.
The apparture made In his skull was
large enough 10 admit the index finger.
The blood and brains oozed out from
the wounds. He was dead the minute
he struck the pavement and never was
in any pain. DR.. McClees was called
and said as soon as he saw him that ne
was dead.
Mr. Johnson was carried into Gould's
feed store and Undertaken Gill was noti-
fed. He came and took the remains to
MS parlors, where ne was embalmed.
Up until 4 O'Clock none Of his relatives
had seen him. He was taken 20 mis-
residence az 80 Charles street. on the
West Side. at 6 O'Clock last night There |
were very few who saw the accident ex-
cept those Tno were at work at the
time. All who were connected with the |
sad affair seem 70 think that one Of the |
guide ropes Stacked. which allowed the |
hook 70 come loosed. causing the derrick |
70 fall forward
The same derrick that caused Mr.. |
Johnson's death yesterday caused him
TO get very severe injury in the Gar |
field university in the fall OF 1887. He
was knocked down a that time and re-
ceived a bad wound over the right eve
from an iron striking him. He had a
bad scar from the effect OF this wound.
Mr. Johnson leaves a wife and four
the eldest being only years
Old He was man about 40 years of
age and hailed from Sweden. Neither
he nor MS wife have any relatives in
this country. He was a member Of the
Odd Fellow Lodge No 345 on the West
Side and also in the Modern Woo4n
y America In the latter organization
le was insured for $1,000.
The funeral will be held this after
noon a. 2:3o. at the family residence.
The funeral services will be conducted
oy the Odd Fellows and the Modern
Woodmen. All friends OF the family
are invited