The sun., 1897-09-11
A DERRICK KILLS THREE.
4 CUR ROPE BROKE AND LET IT
FAIL AMONG THE WORkMEN

A Fourth Man Badiy Hurt-Tho Derrick WINS
Used to Hoist Concrete FOR tho Fortincations
at VSIiiets Point -Nu Supposed Capacity
was Much Greater Thar the Load ON u.
Three men wero killed and another was
.eriousy injured by the fall OF u derrick yes.
terdny at tho United States fortihcations at
Wilets Point. The dead men arc John Brash
William Bondheimer, and Maurice Higgins
Gottlicb Schatch is tho other man hurt. All
four belonged at whitostono and wero laborcrs
who were working under the direction of tho
Government engineers.
For about six years. Off and on, the United
s,atcs has been carrying work at Willets
point and at Fort Schuyler just across the mar
row neck OF Long Island Sound, turning tho
old dofences at these places into modern forti.
acations and mounting 10-inch guns on disap.
nearing carriages. This work has beon pushed
with vigor recently and at willets Point about
100 men are employed. The work now in hand
IA the laying Of concrete foundations for gun
smplaccmcnts.
Yesterday morning the men began work on
Ave empaccments. Each working place was
marked by big derrick. These wero used to
take concrete in buckets from the mixing
machines to the moulds. The place where tho
accident happened was between the new store
house building and the post hospital. This
derrick was one of the largest on the grounds.
II had a massive upright seventy-five feet tall
and n boom nearly as big. 1t was held in place
by seven guy ropes. Civil Engineer Hurlbut
was in charge OF the work and he superin.
tended the setting up Of the derricks. The guy
ropcs OF this derrick were each about two
inches in diameter and from 800 to 400 feet
long.
Each plant had Its own steam engine. and
between the putting and the noise made by the
vorkmen in other ways there was a good deal
OF confusion about the scene of the work.
This noise. it is believed, kept the workmen
from hearing warning cries from others when
the iS irst guy rope broke, and so prevented them
from getting out of harm way. Tho guy ropes
were Of tarred hemp and. when new, each
was capable OF withstanding strain OF from
thirty .tive to thirtyeigh tons. The derrick
was calculated to carry load of at least four
were not more than 1900 pounds OF concrete
In the bucket.
bucket was swung over toward ten or twelve
men who were waiting to dump 1t and tamp
the the long long guy W ropes snap He gave cry Of
warning. The swapping of the first rope set the
w anS TSes bS or ao
began to fall. There was time for the men to
escape had they realized their danger, but they
did not, and the upright, fast gathering head
way, crashed down into the group. Bend
beimer tried to dodge it, and instead ran right
CnQer IL. Inc mast sITuCk nlul on Top OI MS
head crushed his skull, and broke both his
collar bones and other bones. He was killed
Instantly. Brash was caught sidewise and his
body was crushed and both his legs were
broken.
The two other men were struck by the blocks
and rigging Of the derrick. Hgginss left COL
lar bone and rib were broken and Schlatch s
right forearm and rib were broken. The big
boom struck the embsnkment and was broken
In two.
The unhurt men sprang to the rescue Of their
comrades. All four were extricated and car
ried to the post hospital. Brash died in half an
hour. Higgins died at o'clock. Schlatcn 5
recovery is doubtful.
Bendheimer was about 90 years old. and was
reputed TO be we'll of. He has children and
grandchildren.
Brash WIS about SO years old and he leaves
widow and two young children. He was a
valued man on the works as he had served five
years in the Engineer Corps, and had risen to
the place Of frstclass private, equal to that
Of corporal Of the line.
Engineer Hurlbut said yesterday that he
could not account for the giving way of the guy
ropes, for although they were not new ropes
they appeared to be in good condition Coroner
Clapp intends tn hold an inquest to-day.