The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-30
FELL FROM A SWING
In NAY AUG PARK
James Kane, I9 Years Old, Meets with a
Serious Accident.
BECAME DIZZY AND LOST HIS HOLD
The Unfortunate Young Man with a
Companion was Forcing the Swing
to Its Best Height While Standing
Upon the seat--Kane's Nerve Left
Him and He Fell Twenty Feet.

AT Nay aug park, at 4.30 o'clock yes
terday afternoon, in the presence of
hundreds of pleasure-seekers, 19-year-
old James Kane. of Prospect avenue,
fell from moving swing to the ground,
distance of twenty feet. He struck
nat upon his face, Jagged stone
crushing the nasal bone and sending
young Kane into an unconsciousness
which lasted for over four hours.
For half of that time Kane lay upon
the ground in the park, awaiting the
arrival OF the Lackawanna hospital
ambulance.
The accident cast a sickening gloom
over the throng of persons at the park
and save for the curious ones who
formed big circle around the pros
trate youth, the place was soon de-
serted.
A young man, supposed to be Charles
Judge, who was with Kane on the
swing at the time of his fall, mysteri-
ously disappeared after the accident.
The two were merely acquaintances
of the day. Judge, an habitual visitor
to the park, had urged Kane to swing
with him. They selected one of the
two big swings in the northern part of
the park and stood erect upon the
board seat in what is known as the
pumping" way.
A DAREDEVIL COMPANION,
Kane was on the southerly side.
Judge, a daredevil sort of fellow, ex-
erted himself to the utmost in making
the swing make slack"-or to force
1t so that when the seat reached it's
height on either side the wire ropes
would be parallel to the ground, the
downward trip starting with an irregu-
lar jerk as the ropes slackened.
Kane at first threw all his strength
into the work, but when the ropes be-
gan to slacken at the giddy height
above the cross beam he was heard to
ask Judge to stop the swing.
When Kane showed his tlmiditS
Judge laughed at him and only
pumped the harder. Kane was seen
to hang his head, his features paled
and he giddily made a movement as If
to sit on the board. The swing was at
its height among the leaves of the
trees when the spectators saw Kane
half bend his body and then his hands
nervously loosened their grasp on the
ropes, and he fell in the direction of
the swing, striking the hard-beaten
runway between the two trees sup
porting the swing. Judge retained his
hold on the swing and on the next trip
passed over the PROSTATE form of
Kane.
KANE BADLY DISFIGURED.
The injured youth was picked up and
carried to grassy plot near q spring.
He was bleeding badly, seemingly from
his mouth, ears and nose at the same
time. There was deep inch-long cash
in his chin.
Park Policeman McManama dis
patched a boy on a bicycle to the
central police station for a call for an
ambulance to the Lackawanna hos
pital The message did not reach the
hospital surgeon, r. Newberry until
$40 o'clock. 1t was after o'clock
when the ambulance reached the park
DR.. Russell w. Chidsay, who was in
the park had administered such re-
storatives as were at hand but Kane
remained unconscious. 1t was at first
believed that he would not live twen-
ty minutes.
Before the arrival Of the ambulance
Kane's widowed mother, Mrs. Eliza
beth Kane, of 2O5 Prospect avenue,
| reached the park. She was not per-
mitted to see her son, the friends fear
ing that his blood covered features
would have a direful effect upon her.
At the hospital last night DIR. New
bury stated that Kane will probably
recover if the further examination this
morning reveals no internal injury.
His nose is fractured and the cuts on
the chin and bruise on the forehead
will disfigure him for life.
Judge, the young man who disap-
| peared after the accident, could not be
| found last night. His place of living
is unknown to Kane's friends.