Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-01
CRUSHED IN A PIT
OTHER LIVES WERE ETDlIcERgD.
The Work Of Rescufng the Bodies
Very redHeus and Perflous--Cos6~
ner Deems an Inquest Unnccecs>

| Earth On the side OF the eo-foot pit
being dug in the alley just east Of the
Jefferson Hotel, for the furnace-roons
Of that hosiery. caved in yesterday
afternoon a short while before q O'clock
and two colored men-Robert Robertsou
and Prince Carter-who were N WORT
In the excavation at the time, were caugho
beneath the falling earth and stones
and smothered and crushed to death<
Another negro barely escaped their fate.
The body OF Robertson was recovered In
about three quarters Of an hour afters
wards, while that OF Carter was nod
gotten out until $50 o'clock. As soon a.
the earth was removed from each BODY
1t was viewed by City-Coroner. Dr. w.
IL. Taylor. who deemed inquests un~
necessary. The remains OF both the vics
Tins were delivered to friends for burial
Robertson was not buried deeply, only
few feet OF earth resting on his head
and not a bone of his body broken. Care
ter, however. was ten feet, perhaps
beneath surface OF the caved earth, and
the Cor0ner's examination OF his body
revealed that he had not only been
baby crushed in his tracks by the a9cy
lanche Of clay and gravel, but his lefs
ankle was also broken.
HOW THE ACCIDENT HAPPENEDI
The men employed In the excavation
had finished their dinner, and had rec
turned to their work. Five men. ALI
colored, were digging away at the norths
east corner of the pit. when without q
moments warning of any sort. the sidd
above them came tumbllng down,
burying Carter to his shoulders ana
Robertson TO his waist. The other men
were further or and the earth rolled
harmlessly to their feet None OF the I'VE
were apparently injured by this, but ala
most instantly and before a man moved
from his tracks, a second cave In occurs
red.
Robertson and Carter were entomhed
alive, while another man nearest them
was buried shoulder-decp In the debris>
There were many hands employed in
various ways about the excavations. but
all stopped work as soon as the accident
occurred and rendered such aid as they
could to the entombed men. For awhile
consternation reigned the stiffness foo
a moment, when the sound OF the crumbs
ling had ceased. was death-like.
Messrs. Netherand a. Urban. who
have the contract for the excavation.
endeavored to get the men quickly back
TO work, in hopes OF saving at least
one of the unfortunates, who were
buried beneath that pile of dirt, but ID
looked very much as II the embankmene
would cave still, and the men were ra-
luctant about going under tho ledge.
Finally two sturdy brave men seized
their picks and spades, and few others
followed.
AS soon as the accident happened some
one 'phoned for the ambulance, which
responded. with Drs. Baughman, Hords
and also Dr. Charles Labenberg, In the
van They remained at the scene OF tho
casualty until Robertson was removeds
and then glance told them that they
could render no assistance to that un-
fortunate man, and they turned away To
give place to the Coroner.
INQuESTS WERE UNNECESSARY.
Coroner Taylor viewed the body and
deemed an inquest unnecessary. ana
Undertaken Price tcolored) took the body
away to prepare It for burial.
Even while DR.. Taylor fingered, suns
mons came from the river-bank. where
colored boy had been drowned while
bathing.
At $50 the Coroner was again callef
TO the scene of the Jefferson accident
to view the remains OF Carter. which
had just been taken out OF the debris.
Undertaken Johnson (colored) then cara
rIed the corpse away and prepared II
for burial.
Both the dead men lived In tho coun~
~ on the Brook road, and were marrieds