The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-05-09
A PRANK
CAUSES DEATH,

Little Chris Donegan who lived
with his parents at 1887 Almond
street died in the Episcopal Hos
pltal, Philadelphia, Yesterday as
the result of prank by a group Of
boys at Cramps shipyard. The
manner OF his death was one Of the
strangest ever dreamed of. He
was blown up by compressed air.
The lad went to work as a rivet
passer at Cramps last Friday and
the other boys resolved to "haze''
him as new conner. Their chance
came Monday afternoon. Three or
four of them grabbed the boy and
made as if they were going to throw
him into one of the furnaces.
While he was screaming for help
one of the boys caught sight of a
hose attached to tank of compress
ed air, used for running a drill.
Turning on the stop-valve, he poked
the nozzle at young Donegan. and
thought it was only garden hose,
the blast was of such force that
the little fellow was blown several
feet away. AS he fell his body
putfed out like a balloon, and he
lay there senseless. M
The other boys fled. but a pass
ing riveter had seen the trick, aud
he called Captain Sargent, the yard
superintendent. Anambulance was
sent tor, and the little fellow was
taken to the Episcopal Hospital.
There it was found that he had
suffered an internal hemorrhage.
He regained consciousness long
enough to tell what the boys had
done. but he died soon after mid
night.
The Coroner's autopsy Yesterday
indicated that the compressed air,
which had force through the hose
OF ninety pounds to the square inch
had entered the stomach with such
force as to burst the intestines in
two places. u
The police of the East Girard
avenue station arrested J. Currier,
10 years old, OF 525 Richmond street
last night on suspicion of having
caused young Donegan's death.
Currier says he noticed Donegan
fooling with the machine. and hold
ing the tube in his mouth.
City Court Cases. -"
Before Judge Ball in City Court
Charles Kennedy, Frank Fitz-
patrick, George Bartlett, Charles
Donnelly, George Cornell, Edward
Mulvey, Peter Matthews. Thomas
1goe and Michael Burgan were
fined 81 and costs each for drunk
enness. Michael Richie and James
McCrea were rated at $S'and costs
for disorderly conduct.
August Schraeder was charged
with assault and battery on Henry
Martin. The testimony was that
Schraeder struck him last night
without any provocatlon and dis n
colored his face. Schraeder claim
ed that he was assaulted first wit1
a pole and afterwards was cut q
three times on the head with a
knife. For the defense Mrs. Dugan
testified that she washed blood a
from Schraeder's head. There
were three cuts. The case was
continued until this evening in
order to secure number of wit
nesses. -..,
William Ryan was charged BY
his father with being incorrigible.
He runs away for week at time.
He is afraid that something will
happen to him. The last time he
vent away he escaped through a
second story window. The case
Vas referred to Agent Stout.
Harry II. Wilson, colored, was
,harged by his father with being
ncorrigible. He is s years of age
md his parents connot do any
hing with HIM. The Court saidth <
he lad was too young to 60 to thef y
Ferris School. He was recommlt-
ID. 81
For the defense four witnesses
we're called by Anthony Warner
o prove that he did not act in
isorderly manner and the case
vas dismissed.