New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-30
HURLED FROM A STEEPLE.
SHOPPERS SEE A MAN PROBABLY FA-
TALLY HURT AT GRACE CHURCH.

Few NEWCOMERS, II is safe to say. pass Grace
Church without being impressed with the contrast
which It's peaceful lawns and graceful architecture
make TO the crowding business houses around II.
The quiet OF that halowed spot was disturbed yes
terday morning about 10 o'clock by dramatic acct
dent which resulted in the probable mortal injury
OF one man and the narrow escape of another. The
hystericai shrieks Of many passing shoppers added
10 the confusion. Several women tainted and a
great crowd soon choked Broadway at It's famous
bend" II ola not dispense until an ambulance
had taken away the bleeding. broken body OF q
man from the stone steps OF the church to ST. Vim
cents Hospital
Two workmen. Louis Kruschke. OF No. 1852 Hor-
rnan-ave.. and Charles Kreck OF No 535 West
Forty-fourth-st.. had been repantng the spre and
were standing together a swinging platform just
above the rose window" which is between S. and
70 feet above the street They had painted all the
surface which they could reach in position and
Il became necessary to lower the platform little
in order 10 continue their work. The ropes from
which the platform depended were so arranged. as
Is customary, that the men could lower IT and
themselves together without leaving the platform.
This they began 10 do. and as Il Is rather risky
work al all times many persons had stopped TO
watch them.
In making this shift man literally takes his life
into his own hands, for he unties end OF the
doubled rope which supports him In the air and
only the strength OF his own grip keeps 1t from
running swiftly through the pulley at the top and
letting him crash down earth. Kruschke and
Kreck, standing at different ends OF the platform.
had done this and were letting the rope slip gradu-
ally through their hands as their own weight
pulled the platform down BY short Jerks II had de-
scended safely to where a projection in the
mental stone work threatened TO catch the inner
edge Of the ladder OF which their platform
sisted. Kruschke. in order to clear this obstruc-
ton. gave the wall vigorous kick intending to
swing the ladder clear.
swung easily than he had eYpected and
threw him off his balance He staggered. and his
feet slipped down between the now slantng plat
form and the wall For second he danged
at the end of a rope. Then he lost his head. For
getting that long he held firmly TO that
rope the platform must remain stationary, he
made a frantic grab for what seemed TO him the
more solid support of the boards and at the same
Il few through the pulley overhead and kruschkes
END Of the ladder as quickly shot straight down.
and when his end of it had come TO the limit of It's
5ap s tbe Tesfanoe of the ropes AZ the other
end which Kreck was holding in a grasp strength
it shook Kruschke loose like stone from boys
sling oo,.,. 49,, n,-, ,,u.u
his body hit the stone tagging between the base
OF the steepe and iron railIg which incloses
No sooner had Kruschke landed. however. than
Ing 10 his rope, but had been set spinning round
and round by the impetus OF the plat
f fST4 up swing little h' and fTh his nag feet
longer on the end Of the ladder, which now hung
etraight down and from which the boards had
fallen Kreck did not lose his nerve, however He
displayed all the GOODNESS % a sailor in storm
dashed rigging Twisting his legs about the rope
to take part of the weight of his hands ne waited
sid down half yard till his feet once more rested
on the ladder and the knotted end OF the rope
fastened TO il Then, unaided he lowered the whole
thing steadily and safely to the ground.
THE crowd cheered him AMI wanted TO shake
hands with him but all Kreck attention was for
his comrade. Kruschke lay unconscious on the
stones blood flowing from a big cash In the back or
his head An ambulance hurried him to the hos
ritai where the surgeons said he was not dead,
but ne had received many internal injuries that
he could not recover.