New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-09
CRUSHED BY A FALLING LIFT
THREE MEN KILLED IN AN EXCAVATION
AND ONE BADLY INJURED.
THEY WERE UNDERNEATH HEAVY HOSTING
CAR WHEN THE ROPES sIACKENED AND
1T FEIl1.-THE ENGINEER CHASED

1T FEII--THE ENGINEER CHASED
BY AN ANGRY MOB.
Three men were killed and another man was
seriously injured by containing about two
tons Of dirt which fell upon them while they were
AT work ut s O'Clock yesterday morning. In the
excavation for the new East River Bridge at De-
lancey-st. and the East River The killed were:
poI-roRE. Domin,k Iaborer OF No 81 Muiberryst.
DRUMMEI. Joseph. Iabore-. Of No. 81 Mulberry-st
RUMMELO. Joseph. laborer. OF No. 90 Bayard-s'
The injured man was:
LENA Vito Iaborer of No. OF Muiberry-st; taken to
Gouvcrneur Hospital
John Ahearn, who was foreman OF the gang OF
laborers at work in the excavation arrested.
and after being arraigned In the Essex Market Po-
lice Court was turned over TO the custody OF the
Coroner He was later held in 1880 ball to await
the result OF the inquest.
He said that the accident caused by John
Niddower Of No 200 East Slxty-ffth-st.. the engi
neer In charge OF donkey engine used for hosting
the car losing control of his engine. Soon after the
car fell Niddower ran away. Edward Stanley. or
the firm Of Stanley Ryan, OF No. 26 Tompkins-
St. the contractor for the work, was arrested, but
was after ward discharged.
A large number OF workmen. nearly all OF whom
were Italians were at work in the excavation
which is thirty-fve feet deep, and covers about
half acre Of ground. when the accident took place
They were getting the ground ready for the laying
Of the founGation Of the new bridge.
A raised the level OF the street by the
donkey engine was used for carrying the dirt from
the excavation 10 tracks running from the street
TO the pier where the dirt dumped Before be-
ginning work at the place the foreman and the
engineer who was q new there. decided upon
signals to be given for the lifting and lowering OF
the car which was drawn up and let down by
strong steel ropes According the foreman
these signals were simple and could not be misun-
derstood
At O'clock after the had been filled with
dirt, the foreman gave the signal for Niddower
touch the lever which caused the engine pull the
car I'D. Nddower responded quickly. and as the
car started upward several men with pickaxes and
shovels began loosening the earth about the spot
on which II had rested.
The car was far above the workmen when
the ropes attached TO II became slack and Il shot
downward, crushing TO the earth four men. 1t was
raised the level or the street a moment after
Il had struck the bottom OF the excavation but
when II came up again the men seen writing
hurry call for ambulance was sent In. One from
Governor Hospital with Dr. Shields responded
When DR. Shields got 10 the men, Father Sheehan
OF the Church of ST. Rose of Lima, In Cannon
ct, was administering extreme junction. to them
Soon after they had received the last sacrament OF
the Catholic Church. Drummel and Dottore died
Rummelo and Lena were taken TO Gouverneur
Hospital. where the former died soon after being
admitted.
AT the sight Of the PROSTATE men, n large num-
started IN pursuit OF Niddower who was trying 10
get away without being Niddower was
cha sed several blocks, but he managed to escape
by going the roof of a house and getting 10
the street through another one Late last night
however. he was arrested and locked up.