Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-28
THE SUBC0NTRACT0R DEAD
Lost His Life Trying to Warn His
Men of Danger.
CURIOUS BALTIMORE ACCIDENT
Collapse Was Caused by Gradual Civ
ing Away of Piles and
UNDERMINING.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

cpVtn DfspatcH 10 Star
BALTIMORE. Md. April 27-while
nearly 200 men were at work on the new
pier Of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
at Locust Point at noon today the great
structure. which was nearing completion,
began parting on the water side. Most OF
the workmen. hurriedly warned. had just
time to reach the shore line when the en-
tire outer end slid out and collapsed.
About fifty men went down with the
pier. and Of these four are known to
believed to be in the water beneath the
ruins. while twenty more men were more
or less injured. Among the killed were
Howard L. Ellender. superintendent for
the Mclean Contracting Company, who
lost his life while warning he men of
their danger; Anthony Wolf. a subcon-
tractor; Robert Sweetman, a carpenter.
and Max Speghts. an engineer.
Water End Under Roof.
The pier, work on which began a year
ago. was nearly finished on the water end.
which was under roof. The land end was
We. skeleton and had to be closed in. The
pier was $50 feet long and jutted 400 feet
int the water. 1t was cut off just inside
tie shore line as clearly as If done by de-
sign. leaving the land ends OF the steel
| superstructure bent over with the weight
and a great crack four inches wide at the
top and graduating down to the founda-
tons. showing where he concrete wall had
refused to longer carry the load.
The collapse was caused by a gradual
giving away of the piles and underpinnig
toward the outer end. 1t not a new
thing. For a month, it is alleged, there had
been signs of weakening, and for some time
a crack at the shore end had plainly indI-
Gated that there was trouble farther out
that should be remedied or sooner or later
| the pier would go down. A man was yes
terday put to watch this crack with q meas
uring instrument. This morning ii began
to widen perceptibly. At a few minutes be
fore II O'Clock the Waterman notified WILL
lam NJ. Edison, superintendent of the Balti-
more Bridge Company. and Colin Mclean.
president of the Mclean Contracting Com
pany. that the pier was swaying. They
went out and made an inspection. They at
once realized that the danger was great,
and both ran out on the pier to notify the
men to get off.
Collapsed With Cart
They did not succeed in getting all out
of harms way. Almost Immediately after
ward the pier began to part rapidly and
sliding forward collapsed with a crash. In
| twinkling the surrounding wharves were
being emptied of their men and q stream OF
people poured toward the scene of the trou-
BILE. dozen telephones were set working
All the Baltimore and Ohio employees and
every one who could get to the pier rushed
to the rescue. Two bodies were taken out
near the shore line and boats were quickly
manned by volunteers. who rowed around
to the front of the collapsed pier.
the first floor OF which sank Immediately
under, with the roof standing out only by
q few feet. The police responded to the call
by sending all the available ambulances
and patrol wagons Mayor Timanus direct
ed that laborers be put to work and the
work of rescue vigorously prosecuted.
An engineer explained that the outer wash
had softened the clay bottom on which the
piers rested. There will be an investigation.