Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1906-11-30
death As
RESULT OF ACCIDENT

"A most unfortunate aCClu6nG OCCUR
red in this city about noon Monday
in which a well-known and highly
respected citizen of Valley township
lost his life. The accident was especi-
ally unfortunate" in that it occur
red under circumstances, which unless
perfectly understood are apt to give
rise to false impressions both as re-
lates to the victim and the place where
the sad affair took place.
The man who lost his life was Henry
d. Yorks and briefly told the circum-
injary are as follows: During yester-
day forenoon Mr.. Yorks, who lives at
the eastern end of Valley township,
started from home and walked into
town with County Commissioner O.
w. Cook.
After reaching Danville and while
walking up Mill street Mr.. Yorks be-
came desirous of seeking toilet room
and was directed by Mr.. Cook to the
narrow alleyway tetweenElias Maier's
restaurant and the property adjoining,
which leads around to the rear of the
restaurant. The man followed the
walk and understanding that the con.
veniences were installed in the house
he entered the side door that leads in
to one of the apartments at the rear.
Once inside he was directed to the
front apartment in which the bar is
located and from the rear of which
opens the door to the room he was in
quest of.
Now comes the really remarkable
part of the story. In entering the bar
room FROM the rear a person walks
through short passage from the side
of which opens a door leading into
the cellarway. The cellarsteps are rath-
er steep and treacherous and in order
to prevent persons from falling great
care has always been taken to keep
the door closed. More than this, in
order to prevent even the remotest
possibility of accident, Mr.. Maier de-
vised an ingenious lock or contrivance
by means of which the door is sure to
fly shut and lock itself 1t can only be
opened by pulling a cord to which an
iron ring is attached and which pro-
trudes at the opposite side of the
door where the hinges are fastened.
In this way the greatest possible se-
curity seemed assured, as no one but
those familiar with the device could
open the door at all, and thus all dang
sr that might arise from strangers
the door for one leading |
outside was obviated
But alas as the sequel shows, a
strange fatality seems to control some |
cases and all precautions are in vain
AS Mr.. Yorks in obedience to direc-
tions was passing from the rear to the
front room he paused at the celler
door. E. Z. Whitman. the bar tender
observing this called to Mr.. Yorks:
"This way, my friend. ;"
At the same moment to the surprise
and CONSERVATION of everybody the
door flew open inward and Mr..
Yorks with crash went head first
down the long steep stairs. How the
man managed to get the door open is
a mystery. There is but one solution
and that is that in the single moment
that he was fumbling around in the
dim light he accidently caught his
finger in the iron ring and opened the
door, at the same moment falling to
his death.
Elias Maier, G. W. Cook, and a
couple of others present rushed down
into the cellar and found Mr.. Yorks
lying at the foot of the stairs uncon-
scious He was carried up onto the first
floor aud placed on cot in the rear
room. DR.. Shultz and DR.. Newbaker
were Immediately called, DR.. Shultz
arriving first.
The physicians both agreed that the
man was fatally injured and that he
could live but short time. The in
jury sustained was at the base of the
brain, causing cerebral hemorrhage
and general paralysis, the symptoms
being those Of fatal apoplexy. The ac-
cident occurred just before 12 O'Clock
and the man fingered until about /
0 o'clock when he expired. At no time
was he conscious after the accident.
The two physicians, who remained
with the man until death ensued. were
fully convinced as to the cause of
death and agreed that an inquest was
not necessary.
There never was death that was
more purely accidental and for which
more clearly no blame, even in the
degree, attached to anyone.
Mr.. Yorks, the victim, was man of
prudence and sobriety. He did not re-
fresh himself at Mr.. Maier's restaur-
ant and as explained above was there
purely for another purpose.
AS soon as the accident occurred
word was telephoned out to Mr..
Yorks' home, aud in response, his son,
Peter A. Yorks, at once drove into
town. Upon the latter's arrival the
injured man was dead.
The deceased was lifelong resi-.
lent of Valley township He was sixty
three years of age and is survived by
MS wife and one son, Peter A. Yorks.
above named, also a resident of Valley
township.