New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-28
FOUR DIE IN VITRl0L.
MEN FALL IN ELEV ATOR.
Workers in Soap Factory Are
Crushed and Burned.

BY the fall of elevator and the breaking
of carboys OF oil Of vitrioi -four men received
fatal injuries yesterday N the soap manufactuI-
ing plant of the B. T Eabbitt estate, at No. 81
Westinghouse Two OF the men were killed
almose instantly. The other two, burned horri-
bly,. lived until they had been removed 10 the
hospital in Hudson-st. The following are the
dead:
BoNNET sSat9, e3 ma" TsniE s6d.s s n.,yaos
Killed
FAHcIsco r. trsn,3sl: old slns.s g Nc les S$
reachinr the hossit-L
~ I@u 4 6okeg aT' ed ten SG mnSos af,9f
reaching hospital
rENf 81 coaG aRi2l st. S5o5sS fs5s S:aag l s % "
The accider: happened al 1:2O 7. m. shortly
before the close OF the works for the day. The
four men were at the time taking eight carboys
OF oil OF vitrol, each Weighing $50 pounds 10
the third floor 10 be used in the manufacture
of soap As the elevator neared the third floor
there was a tearing and splitting OF timber and
then as the steel cable pulled out Of the lifting
bar the car dropped with a crash to the cellar.
about sixty feet below.
The noise of the falling ear. the crash of glass
and the screams OF agony of the injured men,
as the fiery fluid burned its way into their flesh.
created great excterent among tho other work
burned by the acid. and for time nobody
dared go near the men who being burned.
Streams OF wate- were played the mass of
burning wood, and as possible willing
hands carried the men and bodies to the ground
floor
Two ambulance surgeons did thei- best TO aid
Francisco and Heintzman who were still breath
ing The clothing was burned completely from
the mems bodies in many places, while the flesh
was scared to the bone. Heintzman, the worst
injured had both OF his eyes burned out ana his
chest was burned. while fracture OF the lett
thigh. decorations Of the arms and internal IN
juries were noted in the hasty examination
made by the surgeons before removal to the
bospitaI Until he became unconscious. Heintz-
man noaned piteousf for a priest but not one
could be found to give the dying men consola-
ton
Superintendent Frederick Herman of No. Sti
IViuoughby-ave.. Brooklyn, who has been forty
four years at the Babbitt works, and Jacob
Peck of No t4G Canover-st. Brooklyn. foreman
az the gang which was at work. were placed
under arrest. They were taken before coroner
jackson who held each in S1oouD ball Tor the
inquest which will he held early next week
po,b men furnished bonds IN the amount re-
quired and went home
Superintendent Herman said that the eleva-
tr had been in the building about twenty-five
wears II was an old-fashioned freight elevator
and since the installation of new lifting cables,
about three weeks ago. had not been inspected.
Three days ago it was examined by an empioye
or the firm. who reported it TO be in the best
OF condition.
Coroner Jackson visited the scene. OF the acct
dent at o'clock and after inspecting the fallen
elevator said he would institute most rigid
investigation The first thing he did was to
forbid the use Of the broken car until he had
had an expert look at il and report to him as
~ 80 condition and strength at the time it fell
1beri he said that he was going to make 1t his
business to see that somebody suHerea tor the
catastrophe besides the victims