The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-12


city Monday evening in which O
IL. Jones,of Lake Crystal,a young
man of about 81 years, met his
death aud Joseph Nichols, of thif
place, and John Rubecker, o1
Bingham Lake, were. seriously in
jured. Nichols is in precariouf
condition, and it is thought doubt
full if he will recover.
The accident occurred in the el.
evator being erected for Hubbard
& Palmer Monday evening at 6
few minutes past six o'clock, by 6
staging, on which six or sever
men were standing, giving way
and parcipitating the unfortunate
men to the bottom of the ell evator
distance of about 30 feet.
The immediate cause of Jones
death was the dislocation of the
third cervical vertebra and its
pressing against the upper part Of
the spinal cord. There were also
slight flesh wounds about the face
especially on the nose. Death re-
suited almost Immediately.
Joseph Nichols is in very bad
condition. Seveaal ribs on one
side were broken away from the
spinal column, and pierced his
lungs. He also has two very bad
scalp wounds and one elbow was
crushed. It will be several days
before it can be determine d as to
his chances Of recovery. -. .
John *Rubecker received a very
bad bruise on the back of his head
and one on his leg and his hands
and face were also badly bruised.
He was taken to his home in
Bingham Lake Monday noon.
The accident as it happened as
told by witnesses at the coroner 8
inquest is about as follows:
G. L. Butterfeld, of Lake Cry
stal, the foreman, had just called
six o'clock. The workmen were
scattered over the top of
the building, and one of them sug-
gested that the tools be tied to a
rope which they had and lowered
to the bottom. About five or six
Of them gathered around the bin
in which Mr.. Nichols was working
and were standing on the staging,
when, without word of warning,
the 2x4 which supported the stag
ing gave way and the three mon
fell to the bottom of the bin, a dis
tance of about 30 feet.
AS near as can be remembered
the men who were on the plat
form at the time it dropped were
E: Davault, of Fulda, Anton
Olson, Peter Currier, Jos. Nc.
Keever, Jos. Nichols, of Worth.
ington, O. L. Jones, of Lake Cry.
stal and John Rubecker, of Bing
ham Lake. All except the three
last caught on to the curbing or OF
top of the bin and climbed up
but the others were unable to d,
so and went down to the bottom.
The others Immediately hurriet
down to help the unfortunate ones
Jas. Clark was the first to reacf
them. He found Nichols ant
Jones lying on the bottom of tn
bin; Nichols left leg was extende'
across Jones' right arm, and hi
loft arm was across Jones' chest
Rubecker was on top of the two
and seemed to be in q dazed sort o
condition. Their fellow workmen
at once carried them out and tool
them to their boarding places.
The scaffolding which wen
down was supported by two 2x4s
extending across this was a 2xl(
plank. The 2x4 support at ont
end broke in two about the middle.
It was very poor piece Of lumber
and when the extra weight was
placed on it, it gave away.
The scaffold should have had
but one man on it, as there was
only one man workingin each bin.
An inquest was held over
the body Of Q. Z. Jones Tuesday,
Iby Coroner Plotts at the Office oi