The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-05-09
40 sA<se> 7szAzsls.as -
HOW 1T HAPPENED
Precautions Were Taken to
Protect W0rkmen.
oh. Green, Who was Seriously In
jured by the Cave-In Yesterday
is Doing Nicely.

Oh. Green, who was badly injured
by cave-in o. the soil while working
on the excavation for the extension
of the water mains to Sibley park in
West Mankato, Thursday afternoon,
mention of which was made by the
Free Press last evening, was resting
easily today, and hopes are entertain
ed for his recovery.
The accident occurred shortly after
3 80 O'Clock. Fourteen men were at
work at the last end of the extension,
near the park, under Foreman Fred
Day. They were working by the day
for the city. The excavation was eight
feet deep. and after getting down six
feet it was the practice to brace the
sides and then go two feet further, as
loose gravel was encountered at a
depth of six feet.
Green and one other were employed
in digging the last two feet and Mr..
Day and one or two assistants laid
the pipe when the excavation was
completed. The remainder of the men
worked ahead. digging the first six
feet of the trench.
A day or so ago, there was slight
cavern, but on one was hurt. Thurs
day, short time before the accident
occurred, Mr.. Day asked the men
nearest him whether they were not
down far enough for the braces to be
put in. They kept on working, until
just before the cave-in Mr.. Green
said to Mr.. Day that he guessed it was
ime to put in the braces.
Two sets of plank bracing were used,
and Mr.. Day was engaged in taking
down the rear one to put where Mr..
Green was working, when the dirt
fell. The braces were placed six feet
apart, and Mr.. Green was standing
four feet from the front brace when
the accident happened. The excava-
ton was six and half feet deep, and
about two feet wide. The cavern
occurred on one side, for some little
distance back, and Mr.. Green and
three others, as stated yesterday, were
caught.
Mr.. Day and the other men at once
set to work digging out the men who
had been caught. Green was held in
the dirt in STOPPING posture up to his
neck. and the other three were filled il
about up to their waists. Mr.. Day and
one or two others started at once to
release Green who Strengthened up al
the dirt was shoveled away from hi
shoulders. He seemed to have bee
in the act of shoveling, when he wa
caught. 1t is possible that had he
waited until the braces were placed
before resuming his work the accident
would not have happened.
Green was at once carried into his
house, as the accident happened al
most in front of it, Drs. Hielschel
and Brandenburg were summoned by
telephone, and treated the injured
man, and later had him removed tt
ST. Joseph's hospital.
One of the diggers was over come
by his exertions and the excitement
and tainted, and required some atten
ton.
The three men who with Greer
were caught in the cavern, as stated
yesterday, were Floyd Chandler
Grant and Freiingberg. The latte,
two were able to return to their worl
this morning.
Green has a wife and several children
who are in cramped circumstances
He had not worked for the city TO-
several years until the present job wa
undertaken
Several of the city officials hav
made close inquiries into the matter
and are not able to say that any blam
attaches to anyone.
Mr.. Day states that he took all tn
precautions that seemed necessary
considering the character of the soil
and as rapidly as the men brought tn
excavation down it was braced befor
the lower two feet was touched.
DIR. Hielscher describes Green's in
juries as follows: Ribs on left sid
dislocated, breastbone dislocated, bot
collar bones dislocated. There ar
apparently no internal injuries. TIL
mans temperature is normal, and
serious results are to follow it will be
come manifest by tomorrow. Unies
there ia an unexpected turn for tn
worse, Green will recover.