The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-06
HE FELL FIFTY-FVE FEET.
Mr.. JOHN KANE, FOREMAN OF A. C. |.
IRON BRIDGE FORCE, MET
HORRIBLE DEATH.
e. L. Yards-Lost His Footing and
Fell to the Wharf Body Terribly
Crushed-Died at IL O'Clock I'm City
Hospital-Accident Occurred at s:45
o'Clock-Funeral Today.

Mr.. John Kane, foreman Of the iron
bridge force Of the Atlantic Coast Line,
met a horrible death yesterday by fall
ing from the reloading bin Of the At
lantic Coast Line elevator to the wharf
beneath, a distance Of fifty-fve feet.
His body was terribly crushed by the
fall and he died from the effects Of
the injuries about IL o'clock. at the
city hospital, where he was carried at
ter the accident.
MI. Kane was OIL top OF the elevator
standing over the reloading bin direct
ing workmen who were preparing to
put a sheet iron lining in the bin. OF
the workmen, one of them, Fred
Blanchard, was standing with Mr..
Kane on the edge OF the bin, and an
other, c. H. Rucker, was in the hopper
making patterns by which the sheet
iron was to be cut to fit the interior
of the bin.
Mr.. Blanchard and Mr.. Kane had
just been discussing the best method
of hosting the sheet iron, which is
quite heavy, to the top of the elevator.
He saw Mr.. Kane stumble in some way
n called to him to look out, at the
same time making an effort to catch
n support him.; but Mr.. Kane, max
ing futile efforts to catch on ada
cent timber, fell from the bin. AS
he fell headlong toward the wharf his
body struck the railing of a gang way
which passes from the main part OF
the elevator structure to that on which
the loading bin is stationed, the
gangway being at a point almost mid
way the elevator. From the gangway
rail Mr.. Kane fell upon the wharf be-
r-n ~ os1~oa ~onI U-hfnh ~
tends across it.
There were very few wOrkmen about
the elevator at the time the accident
occurred, but those that were there lost
no time in rushing to the side of their
injured foreman. DR.. D. w. Bullock
surgeon for the Atlantic Coast Line
and DR.. E. j.. Dixon, of the Atlantic
Coast Line Relief Department, were
hurriedly summoned Inc did all they
could to alleviate the sufferings OF
Mr.. Kane. Strange to say, he seemed
perfectly conscious very soon after the
| fall and remarked: That was a ter
| rible fall / had" He directed various
things to be done for himself and com
mented pom h extent Of his injuries
AS soon as possible after the acct.
lent Mr.. Kane was removed to h city
hospital, where, as previously stated
he died at IL o'clock. The accident &C.
Cured about S:45 o'clock.
Inc deceased was ABOUT 81 years "
age and was an experienced bridge
contractor, having been in the bust
ness for the past twenty-five or thirty
years. He had been with the Atlantic
Coast Lac a few months, having en-
listed in the service Of the cOmpan
during October or November Of las
year.
Little is known here of his past life
1t is thought hat he is a native of ii
linois and has a sister in ST. Louis. II
was for a number of years a genera
bridge contractor and was for a mum
ber.of years in the employ of the Edge
more Bridge Company, of Wilmington
Del. His headquarters have been il
this city since he was employed by tn
Coast Line, but much the greater por
ton of his time was spent all along tn
A. G. l.. system wherever the servic
Of his force was needed.
The funeral will "a place at tn
lodge at Oakdale cemetery at 5 o'cloc
p. m. today. The carriages Will be a
the offices Of the A. G.. l.. at 4:30 p. II
and the officers of the railroad Wi
be driven II the city hospital, theme
to Oakdale cemetery.