The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-10-05
DIES FROM FALL
.saNTEE TREsTLE BRIDGE WORK
Err MEETS AWFUL DEATH.
1oosening Of Rope Precipitated Him
Forty Feet From Derrick Boom
TO steel Trestle Work.

Forty Feet From Derrick Boom
TO Steel Trestle Work.
The News and Courier says G. L.
johnson, of Richmond, Va, trestle
worker, in the employ Of the Ameri-
can Bridge Building Company, OF
New York, died Friday afternoon
at about 2 o'clock on the threshold
of the st. Francis Xavier Infirmary,
as the result of injuries received Dy
falling from forty-foot derrick
mast at the steel trestle now in
course Of construction by the At
lantic Coast Line Railway over the
santee river, near St. Stephens.
The accident occurred at about 10
o'clock Friday morning, and although
medical attention was given the un-
fortunate man Immediately, several
,haurs passed before he could be put
on the Florence train Of the Allan
tic Coast Line and carried to Char
Lesion.
Johnson was conscious until death
relieved him Of his sufferings from
half dozen fractures Of bones and
other horrible Injuries in various
parts of the body. The trestle work
er was about 80 years of age, and
leaves behind him widow and two
children, living in Richmond, Va.
Foreman C.. w. Fields, Assistant
FOREMAN J. K. Keeter, and ]. c.
Grinnalds, time keeper, all in the
employ of the American Bridge
Building Company, were witnesses OF
the terrible fal! of Johnson. Ac-
cording to accounts given by them,
Johnson had climbed to the top or
one of the derrick masts, situated
near the northern end of the trestle
now in construction, in order to re-
adjust some guy ropes. While lying
hat on the boom of the derrick, the
rope holding the pole in position
loosened itself, causing one end to
drop.
Johnson shot. down the boom with
lightning rapidity, unable to hold
himself, and was preciptated dis
tance of about forty feet upon the
steel frame work of the half finish
ed trestle below. The unfortunate
man fell face downward, an upright
bolt piercing his right eye and enter
ing the skull, while the face was
mashed almost beyond recognition.
The left wrist was broken, the rlsht
arm sufficient a compound fracture
between the wrist and elbow, while
the right leg was fractured in the
thigh.
Several terrible gashes were also
found in the lower part Of the BODY
which, in themselves, it is stated,
would have been sufficient to have
ultimately caused death.
johnson suffered intense agony on
his way from the Santee river to
Charleston, and piteously begged
those standing around him for relief.
The Florence train was late in ar
irving in Charleston. An ambulance
took the injured man from the depot
to the st. Francis Xavier lnt1rmary
but johnson died lNst as ne was
carried into the doors of the hospital.
A local physician was in attendance
upon the man after his arrival In
Charleston.
The coroner gave permission to
have the body transferred to the un-
dertaking rooms of ]. Henry Stuhr,
on Wentworth street. where an In
quest was held. The three witnesses,
who made the trip to the city with
their wounded fellow worker, testifi-
ed as to the manner in which he came
to his death.
Johnson had been working at the
Santee trestle for several monshs
and stayed in St. Stephens.
-S