The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-05-23
Bird &C ACCIDENT 7.
CAUSES DEATH
Of THREE
DISASTER AT HoWARD-sT. sTRUc.
TURE DUE TO FALLING CRANE
THREE WoRKMEN ARE IN
JURED. TWO QUITE SERIOUSLY.

Coroner Bennett will hold an in
quest, beginning probably next Wed
nesday, in the Howard-st. bridge ac-
cident OF Friday afternoon, when two
workmen were killed outright, another
80 seriously injured that he died Sat
urday morning, and three others less
seriously hurt. The coroner will swear
in jury composed OF business men
early Saturday afternoon and declares
he will do his utmost 10 fix the respon-
sibility for the disaster.
All the Victims were structural iron
workers, In the employ OF Whitehead
& Kales, which firm has the contract
for repairing the bridge, condemned
as unsafe a year ago. Those killed
outright were Thomas Holm, No. 7Ol
Dubois-st., and Joseph Kulke, No. 1O45
Chene-st. Alex. Scott, No. l67 Reeder-
ST., died in Red Cross hospital shortly
before noon Saturday. The most seri-
ously injured are Michael Dyuck, No.
$50 Thirty-ff th-st., and Fred Burowski.
No. 226 Thirtieth-st.. both OF whom are
In St Marys hospital. Both are suf-
fering from internal injuries. In ad-
dition aDyuck has compound frac-
ture or the left leg. an injured spine.
a crushed foot and hip, and Burow-
skis right leg is fractured.
The other workman injured is Ar
thur West. No. 102 Bagg St. who
escaped with bruises and bad shak-
ing up. He was assisted home.
The falling OF a travelling crane
started the trouble. as nearly as can
be learned, though eye witnesses diff
fer as to just what did occur At
any rate the six men had just re-
moved one OF the old sieepers OF the
bridge and were about TO put In its
place a huge steel girder that was
being hoisted into place when. accord
Ing TO some OF the witnesses, tho
crane came crashing down from
above carrying the girder and tho
men with 1t. All six were precipitated
10 the bottom OF the deep cut OF the
Michigan Central tunnel entrance. so
feet below, along with the broken
pieces Of iron and other debris.
Ambulances were summoned by
those In charge as soon as possible
and the injured were hurried away.
There was considerable delay In call
hours later when Coroner Bennett
reached the place. He found Mr..
Kales, OF Whitehead & Kales. and
the latter's attorney, Mr.. Goodnow.
In authority and when he sought TO
have the broken pieces OF iron remov-
ed 10 be held as evidence, Mr.. kales
and the lawyer put up vigorous pro-
test, declaring that he had no sucn
o,,th nr nntara ant
ahead, however, after a heated argu-
ment. and Mr.. .Kales called him up
on the telephone later in the evening
and acknowledged that the coroner
had acted within his rights. His man
ner had undergone quite a marked
change since the exciting scene of the
afternoon.
Immediately after the accident men
were stationed on the bridge to keep
off all persons who sought information
concerning the men killed Not even
the names CT the dead men would be
given out. Newspaper men were
turned down coldly and ordered away
the employees setting themselves up
as autocrats. In fact every effort
was made to smother all facts bearing
on the accident and It's cause. Even
the police were dehed. When the
coroner arrived workmen were al
ready at work clearing away the
broken pieces of iron and machinery.
Coroner Bennett ordered the work
stopped in spite OF Mr.. Kales' pro.
test and sent the stuff TO the western
yards OF the ID. p. w. after marking
his Initials on each piece.
Thomas Holm, one OF the killed,
leaves his widow and two children,
Joe. aged 5, and Frank, aged 3. He
was 90 years old. When little Joe
heard that his father had been hurt
in an accident he asked. looking up
into his mothers tear-stained face:
MA. won't pa come home any
more?"
Kulkie was Is years old, and lived
with his parents.