The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-13
ANACONDA NEWS.
VICTIM OF AN ACCIDENT
George Darby, the Baseball Play
er, May Lose His Life.
MS
-
WELL KNOWN IN THIS CITY
Was Formerly the Star Pitcher on the
III Missoula Team-Played in the
~ Montana League Two
HILL Years Ago.
WELL KNOWN IN THIS CITY

The Spokane Daily Chronicle of FRI
day publishes the sad news of a serious
accident which befell George Darby,
who is well known throughout the
state, but particularly in Missoula and
Anaconda. Darby was formerly the
star pitcher on the Missoula team, and
two seasons ago made a great record
as a member of that organization. He
is well known in this city and is highly
esteemed by all who have the pleasure
Of his acquaintance. Following is the
ACCOUNT of the accident, as published by
the Chronicle:
aGeorge Darby, the well-known ball
player and athlete. was crushed and
terribly injured about 10 o'clock this
morning by being caught under fall
ing pipe in the new north side water
main, which is being laid in the north
western part of the city. The heavy
main struck Darby squarely in the
back, crushing him down to the ground.
The injured man was at once brought
to the Sacred Heart hospital. Little
hope of his recovery is entertained.
''Since the collapse of the Pacific
Northwest League last summer. Mr..
Darby has been working at his trade
as boilermaker in this city. He was
first employed at the Spokane Boiler
works, but for some time past has been
foreman of the pipe gang, engaged in
laying the new north side water main
for Contractor Peter Costello.
THE accident happened about 10
O'Clock this morning. One of the large
24-inch pipes had been hoisted on the
tripods above the ditch and hung sus-
pended in the air, ready to be lowered
into the ground. Just as he was about
to give the word to begin lowering the
pipe, Darby glanced into the ditch to
see if all was clear and saw a small
pile of dirt. which had been left in the
bottom of the ditch near one end of the
pipe. Fearing that this dirt would pre-
vent the pipe from lying true, he
turned to one of his men and COM
manded him to get into the ditch and
throw out the dirt This the man re-
fused to do, pointing out the danger of
the pipe slipping and dropping into the
ditch.
Darby did not repeat the order. but
picked UP a shovel and jumped into the
ditch to do the work himself. He had
the first shovelful, when one of the
legs of the nearest tripod slipped. the
tripod collapsed and the end of the pipe
dropped into the ditch. Darby heard
the cries of alarm which greeted this
accident and tried to get out of the
way, but was unsuccessful. The end
of the heavy pipe caught him squarely
in the middle, crushing him to the bot
tom of the ditch.
at was some time before the men
could remove the heavy pipe and re-
lease the unfortunate man. He was
lifted from the ditch and laid upon the
ground. AS soon as rude stretcher
could be devised, he was carried to the
quarters of the men. Word of the acct
dent was sent to this city and Contrac-
tor Costello and DR.. G. T. Penn went
to the scene. The injured man was
given an opiate and brought to this
city and placed in the Sacred Heart
hospital.
George Darby is one of the most
famous ball players in the country. He
is still less than IS years old, but has
been playing professional ball almost
eyer since the game has attained any
great national reputation. He has
played in some of the best teams in
the country. at one time being account
ed one of the cleverest pitchers in the
land. His last work was in the Spokane
team of the unfortunate Pacific North
west League last summer. where he
performed the record-breaking feat of
shutting the Tacoma team off without
l;t