The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-12-03
Julius c. zander, Contractor, and
VIM. Leschinsky, Helper, Buried
Under Ton of Sand-Third
Man Digs Himself Out.
Workers Had Been Warned They
Were Taking Long Chances But
Scorned the Advice.
THE DEAD.
JULIUS c. LANDER, 90 years
DID, sewer contractor, No. 1880
Twcnty-ffth-st.
WILLIAM LESC HINSkY, sewer
worker. No. 971 Twenty-fourth-st

Working In soft sand in n sewer
excavation, Is feet underground, and
with only the lower five feet braced
with timbors. two men were buried
under Ton OF sand. and smothcred "a
death. while a third. a laborer named
Prctska, first name and address un.
known, was buried to his armpits, but
managed 10 dig his way out. and es-
cape. lie disappeared immediately
after the accident, which occurred near
Lafayette boulevard and Vinewood-ave.
shortly before II o'clock Thursday
morning.
Nou're taking big chances" said
Prof. &. j. Malmberg. OF the Swedish
Institute. as he saw lander n work In
the pit. at the rear Of his property.
Yes ! suppose YOU want To tell me
how 10 do my work" lander replied
~ GU know more about IL than ] do
Two been digging sewers all my life.
That was nj : o'clock in the morn
inS. Four hours later Malmberg saw
men digging feverishiy 60 drag out the
bodies of Iandcr and his helper.
The Rev Angus II. Cameron. of the
Emmanuel Presbyterian church, and ],
Alexander. city fireman. were the
fret men 10 respo0d to a call for help
from frank Strauss. n water board
tcamstar. who Witnessed the accident.
Pastor Cameron lives AT No. 2S9
West Grand boulevard. adjoining the
LOT in which the sewer was being dug
lie seized "A spade and dug iranticaly,
With Alexander and Strauss. to rescue
l.CschnsNy. The story OF the calam-
ity had spread rapidly, aud nearly a
dozen officers from Scotch station. in
personal charge Of Capt James Spfott
were on the scene within a few min
utes They all Joined I'm the work
Leschlnskys body was dug ont after
fifteen minutes OF hard work II took
half hour 90 reach lander Both men
were dead when found
PrCfka did not wait 10 see the bodies
recovered. but when he made his own
escape dashed away, saving that he
VAS going 70 notify the families of the
othcr two men
Coroner Bennett was on the scene
shorty after the bodies were recov.
cred, and ordered them sent to the
county morguc Thore is likelihood OF
further investigation than that made
~ The snGl, on account OF Prof. Malm-
bergs statement
"Pref<a. VINO escaped. has n charmed
life said a building contractor, work
Ing in the neighborhoOd Years ago,
I'm the old Griffin Car Wheel Co. We
worked side by side. lie was over
come by gas down i'm the ovens. one
day They thought he was dead.
carried him out, and he was revived
shortly after
The excavation extended from 4 lot
on the east side OF Ninewood-ave
near Lafayette boulevard and extend
ed across an alley. and into sewer
main. laid by the Hubbard estate.
years ago The main docs not follow
the crooked course Of the alley. but
extends under 1ue rear of the prop
erty now occupied by the Swedish
institute. al No 26l-265 West Boule-
ward. Prof Malmberg had given per
mission 10 tap the pipe. II it were
done AT once before the grounds were
sOdded next spring.
CRUDE & .Iapcs had the contract
hut sublct It TO lander. whose care
lessness is held responsible by the
coroner.