The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-10-24


lowered near, laughing good-natur-
eddy at the jest of comrade, the
lives of Newton Green and Dick
Noreen were snuffed out at 4:30
Saturday afternoon. The men met
their deaths in a cave-in which &C.
Cured on the sewer between Ninth
and Tenth streets on Yakima avenue.
A few moments more and their day S
work would have ended; Noreen
would have gone to his boarding
place and Green would have gone,
as he always did when his days
work was over, to the little home on
South Wenas that held the nearest
and dearest in all the world to him
his wife and little babe. Now
both are lying cold in death, their
fate a reminder of the uncertainty of
life.
Under the direction of w. E. Dor
rington, the recently arrived repre-
sentative of the Gilligan company,
who are building the sewer, and di-
rectly managed by John Leach, fore
man, a force of forty or fifty men had
been working for three' days on the
sewer construction. The trench,
four feet wide and, at the point
where the accident occurred, nine
feet deep, had been extended some
distance ahead of the men, who
were engaged in laying pipe. AS it
was dug the sides of the trench were
walled or cribbed with 2x6 lumber
placed vertically. Half way down a
AKA ran horizontally on each side,
held in place by iron jack screws
Across the top 2x6 pieces were plac-
ed, these precautions being taken to
prevent the weight of the rocks and
loose earth from crushing in the
cribbing. Feeling that these were
sufficient to guarantee safety to life
and limb the men worked secure in
their confidence, and did not give a
thought to possible danger.
At 4:30 Foreman Leach, Newton
Green and Dick Noreen were en-
gagged in putting the pipe in place.
Mr. Leach had just climbed out of
the trench, and the two men were
working over the last joint of pipe,
both being in a STOPPING position
Mr.. Leach heard slight rafting of
gravel, and then the crash came. The
sides of the trench came together
like a clasp, and the unfortunate
men were caught under the crib
bling, which was held fast by many
tons of rock and loose earth. 1t was
established later that Noreen was
killed instantly. He was taken out
about o'clock and it was found
that his chest was crushed, his head
bruised and also crushed, and that
his body contained a number of bad
bruises. a heavy timber had pressed
against his side and back, sufficient
in itself to have caused death. But
it is gratifying to know that if he
suffered it was for but short time.
Ten feet away from where Noreen
lay was Green's body. Like Noreen,
he was pinned down by timbers
weighted with tons of rock and
earth. He was in sight of the
workers, who put forth almost super
human efforts to rescue their COM
rades. DR.. West who was one of
the first to arrive on the scene,
climbed down beside him and found
that he still lived. Then Foreman
Leach called to him and asked if ne
] L.
thing in reply, which was not under
stood. Leach then told him to not
be discouraged. and that the boys
would soon have him out. "All
right" he replied, and this was the
4 last time his voice was ever heard.
/ When at o'clock he was lifted
from the trench it was found that
! life had been extinct for some time.
/ The body was taken to the Shaw
Flint undertaking parlor, where 1t
was found that the left side had
been so severely crushed that this
caused his death.
Mrs Green was notified, and sup
ported by neighbor woman and
friend, went to the undertaking par
lor Her grief was indescribable
but she bore up well under the try
ing ordeal. 1t is said that she is in
poor health. Her orphaned child is
eighteen months old.
Green was a pleasant. industrious
and highly respected man. From
dozens of those who knew came
words of praise last night. He
owned the home where the family
live. 1t is not known whether he
carried life insurance or not.
Noreens injuries were most seri-
Gus about the head, shoulders and
hips. He is a man of about 80 and
has been employed in various ca
pacities in this city for about year
past It is said he came from Ore
gon, but where his relatives live, II
he has any, has not yet been de.
termined An effort will he made te
find them, however
Many theories were advanced as
to the cause of the accident. and
none of them agree with any other
Former Engineer Nicol said to g
Herald reporter that he was certain
the cribbing OF the trench had beer