Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-06

w.s,s p,wvsns rrenss the Earth
c.xsa in uson Then sAd Bsriea
them Eievea Feet below the SUR
s.ce-plmculty Of Ressuefs.

wb,,s laborers were engaged yester-
dav AFTERNOON In dissing trench fof
connection with culveft In the aIley at
the corner OF Birch street between Park
and West avenues. the earth caved In
and two Of them were buried beneath
tons OF red clay eleven feet below the
surface.
The unfortunate men we're BENJAMIN
THOMPSON ana Abram Tyler, both or
whom are colored. Thompson was Killed
and Tyler was quite badly injured. The
men were members OF gang or iaborers
working for Messrs. Moore q Ford, the
well.known contractors, and with their
companions were engaged in digging a
trench along the alley. the contract for
which had been awarded to the FIRM By
the city.
For safety, the digging was not all done
at one place. bit the trenches were sep
arated by short partitions OF earth, and
the men were tnus scattered. Thomp-
son and Tyler were at work together IN
one OF the trenches. and were Just pre-
pairing to ascend from the hole TO quit
work for the day when the frail supports
that had been erected on either side or
the trench gave way and the earth
crashed down upon them.
CRUSHED AGAINST THE WALL.
THOMPSON was caught against the wall
on the opposite side ffom the eave-in,
and crushed against 1t and buried. Tyler
was not so badly used, though he was
buried beneath the clay. Both men set
ND a shout for help. and but a few mo-
ments INTERVIEWED before their compan-
Ions had come to their rescue. The res
cuers worked franticaily to remove the
earth from about and above their com
rades. and after diligent work for some
minutes succeeded In uncovering the
head and shoulders of Thompson.
They agreed a.<xng themselves that he
was dead. and thsS continued to dig for
Tyler, who was soon brought TO the sur
face and removed from the hole. An ef-
fort was also made to remove Thompson,
but another slight eave-in occurred. and
the rescuefs sprang from the hole and
refused to again enter Ii.
AMBULANCE WAS DELAYED.
A phone message was sent for the am
bulance, but in some manner the mes-
sage got mixed, and instead OF going TO
the scene Of the accident the ambulance
drove TO the Soldiers Home, and hence
was delayed In getting to the place at
which IL was needed. After about three
quarters of an hour, however, II arrived.
| and while one OF the surgeons looked ar
| ter Tyler the other sprans into the hole,
| and scrsping the dirt from atound
| Thompsons head, felt for some signs OF
| life. He was quickly rewarded. for he
| felt the pulse In his temple beating very
| distinctly. -.
He AZ once summoned men to his as
| sistance. and when II was ascertalned
| that there was stu life In the buried
| body lhere were plenty or volunteers for
| service in the dangerous hole. The place
| had however, to be braeed, aud this was
| done as best 1t could be, while the physi-
| clan remained below and injected NOR
| ph,ne into the buried niana head. Ere
| the body could be unearthed, however.
| the unfortunate man breathed his last,
| and the work of removing him from the
| hole was gone about In a moro deliberate
manner.
THE CORONER SUMMONED.
Rones were brought into use and tied
/ around the body. and after the earth nad
| been dug away from around IL the hteiess
remains were hauled to the surface ana
| laid out on a plank. A summons had oeen
| cent for the Coroner. and Or. Taylor soon
| arrived. He viewed the remains anu turn
| ed them over to friends.
THOMPSON was a married man. and
lived with his wife and family on Eigh'h
street between Clay and Leigh. The re-
mains were taken In hand by undertaker
Bennett, who prepared them Tor SNIP
| ment to Hanover.
| TYLER is also a married man, and lives
| with his wife at No. "a Lewis street, IN
Fulton. lie was taken TO the almsnouse'
| where he was reported last night as rest
| ing easy and doing well.