The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-15
LITTLE BOYS NARROW
ESCAPE FROM DEATH.
struck by Long PIank-Accfdent
While Raising .

TWO immense paaEks thai we're uefng
lowered from one oG the top windows N
this Mutual Life building last evening
about 3 - O'Clock struck d wire. sid 0at OF
the sl!ng and plunged thirty feet TO the
sidewalk. They struck end on and topping
over into the street knocked down b.
Chandler. j. Barrett and crushed little
Clifford Blrkel. Of 1913 Fifth avenue 10 the
pavement. He vas picked UP apparently
nfeless and hurried in the patrol wagon
80 Providence hospital Before arriving he
recovered consciousness and commenced 10
cry. DR. Ne~iaEds has great confidence OF
hts recovery.
Yesterday afternoon BENJAMIN Chandler,
the draynlan. and his men lifted big safe
from the sidewalk TO one o. the upper
rooms In the Mutual Life building. This
was accomplished by means OF block and
tackle arrangement, running from the roof
10 the sidewalk. At the edge Of the side
walk stood the big dray on which the safe
set. Ropes were stretched across the walk
on both sides of the dray so that people
could not pass the dangerous ground. The
safe had been safely swung into the win
dow and placed in position. In handling
the safe in the building the TWO Parks.
each sixteen feet long and four inches
thick By twelve inches vide were used
These were being lowered to the side
walk when the accident happened Quite a
crowd was present. ana as the Dig iImbefS
came slowly down from the dizzy height
all eyes We're turned aioft. People going
home stopped 10 see what was going on.
The crowd became larger and larger. Lit
tie Clifford Brkei stood on the outside Of
the dray near one OF the wheels. He vas
deeply interested In what was going on In
lowering the p.anks a guy rope was used
10 steady them. Suddenly II was noticed
thar something had gone amiss. The de-
.
stopped. The sling had caught on "A wire
The tension on the guy rope probably
caused the p.anks 10 slide out OF the sling
They came down 10 the sidewalk like a
black streak. The crowd broke IN all Ii
Teetions. PAtrolman Frank j. Bryant saw
that one man had stepped on the track d.
rect.y in front OF an approaching cable car
lie jumped 10 save him That moment
the b.g planks t0pp!ed over from the side
wax Into the street. Bryant was struck
and fell almost under the car Mr. Chand-
Ter wcnt flying into The street and fell az
ftIi length while J. Barrett. one OF his
wogkfnen Was almost knocked out. As Mr.
Chandler picked himself up he saw a lii
tie form under one % the big iifrlbers He
raised IL up and there lay the silent APP
rarentiy life.ess form Of little Clifford
Birkel. son Of Albert Birkel, one Of the
pfoprIetofs OF the Monterey saloon, 2ll First
avenue south.
pr. New.ands was Immediately su~: mon
ed. II seemed a. II the boy was dead Pa
troman Bryant. who had recovered from
the shock OF the knock down called the
patro! wagon and the child vas rushed to
Providence hospital The cool air and mo-
ION or the wagon restored him to con-
seriousness. He commenced TO cry and com
pihlned OF intense pains in his head He
tossed and tumbled. II was pitiful sight
lie was carried into room on the first
iiooT. undressed and put 10 bed The doc
tor then made a thorough examination. The
body had escaped injury. There was no
sign OF flow Of blood from the nose.
mouth or ears Things commence TO look
favorable" said the doctor. Then he OK
amined the boys head. There was a pro-
nounced ridge extending from the back %
u" head nearly 10 the forehead. HE has
suffered conclusion Of The brain but | do
not mink that the skull Is fractured
Young Br6el now able to tell where
ne lived and his name. 4 gentleman whn
mad helped place him in the patrol wagon
notified his mother
The hoy is a brother O. the two Rirkel
boys who were accidentally drowned two
or three years ago while playing on logs
near The Pacific Coast coal h,inkers