Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-11-11
DERRICK FALLS.
John Miha|i Killed on
High School Addition.
Five Others Receive More or
Less Serious Injuries.
Two Escape...PIatform Gives Way
And Guy Rope Breaks.

The falling of a derrick, which had
been set up on platform on the sec
ond story of, the Cony High school
addition. resulted yesterday morning
in the death of one OF the workmen
and the injury of three others.
The dead: John Mihali carpenter, 80
years Old, unmarried; residence, Mill
block. Augusta Death due to interna,
injuries; back broken City hospital.
The injured: Charles A. Brooks,
foreman; residence, Pine street, Au-
gusta. Deep cut on chin, extending in
to the mouth; cut over right eye; gen
cral shakeup. Taken home.
Paul VeillcuX, mason; residence, II
Clinton street, Gardiner. Dislocation
OF right shoulder joint City hospital.
Edwin l.. Lovejoy, carpenter: resi-
donCe, Belgrade road. Badly shaken
up; slight Commissions on body. TAX
en- home.
George Doyle. carpenter; residence,
North Augusta. General shakeup: con-
tusiOns. Taken to residence of w. e.
Corbett, "a Oak street
The misbap came with but a sec
OndS warning. The derrick was on a
staging or platform ON a level with the
door of the second story of the addi
ton which is being built onto the
eastern side of the Cony High school
building 1T was sustained by three
rope guys, which were considered suf-
ficient to sustain any weight which
WOULD be put upon the derrick The
words "Cony High school, are to APP
pear over the entrance to the adli
tion and the block bearing the word
School" was being hoisted into posi-
ton. This block weighs about 1000
pounds.
The derrick is operated by hand
crankS and the appropriate gears be-
ing used. The stone had been raised
from the ground and was being swung
into place when the boards of the
platform beneath the derrick began to
yield. causing the bottom of the der
rick to Slip. Before the Workmen had
time to realize what was happening,
one of the guy ropes snapped and the
derrick. weighted with its 1000pound
lead, toppled over toward the interior
of the building and crashed through
the platform. bringing down every
piece of the large quantity of lumber
OF which 1t was constructed, and with
it the men who We're standing on the
PLATFORM The derrick and lumber
went through to the cellar. while the
stone which was the cause of the
trouble. struck on the first floor at the
western side of the entrance.
Seven Inen We're on .Ihc platform at
the time ii the accident. Fred Stevens
and Guy Dow were the only ones who
Il -a,.if i,oI, :nS. hy1t
beth these mon were somewhat shak-
on un and would not care to repeat
tire experience.
Mr. Brooks fell onto the first floor
ard was struck in the jaw by a piece
of plank. The other men who were in
jured We're buried in the debris, and
Mihali is believed to have been struck
by Il falling timber.
as soon as the other WOrkmen re-
covered from their horror the work of
rescue began. 1t required care and
Skill to remove the imprisoned men
from the ruins without adding to their
injuries, but the work was done care
fully and speedily.
Mihali and Veileux were rushed to
the hospital as soon as the ambulances
arrived and the other injured men
were taken to their own homes or the
home: of relatives.
Mihali died an hour after the acct
dent.
Only a careful investigation can fix
any responsibility for the accident. if,
indeed, the responsibility can be fixed
upon anyone.
Relatives of the deceased man Mi
hall are expected today and the fu-
neral arrangements will not be made
until they can be consulted.