Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-04-14
JAMES BEAMER, OF THIS CITY,
MEETS INSTANT DEATH At
kEOkUk.
HEAVY TRUSS BREAKS MANS
NECK AND FRACTURES SKULL
seamer Was Employed on Rsmodelins
Catholic Church Whom Accident
Happensd-Body Expected Hero This
Evening, and Funeral Will Take
Place Saturday Morning.

John H. Beamer. 500 South Second
street, left Thursday evening for keo-
kuk, summoned by telegram telling
him Of the accidental death of his son,
James F. Beamer, of this city. The par
ticulars of the death were not stated
in the message. but from Keokuk today
it is learned that Beamer's death was
due to the falling of heavy truss
from the top of ST. Mary's Catholic
church. which is being remodeled.
Beamer was employed on the work,
having gone to Keokuk two weeks ago.
The heavy tinlbers struck the man on
the head. crushing his skull and break
ing his neck He died ten minutes
later without rega ming consciousness.
James Beamer was SO years old. and
single The family moved to this city
from Belle Plaine four years ago. Aside
from his parents Mr. Beamer is sur
vived by three sisters and one brother.
The sisters are Misses Cora NJ. and
Della NJ who live with their parents,
and Mrs. Roe Eirp, of Chelsea. The
brother is Samuel c. Beamer, who lives
at home.
The elder Mr.. Beamer is expected to
reach the city this evening from keo-
kuk with his sons body. and 1t is
planned to hold the funeral from the
residence Saturday morning, with Rev.
s E. Ellis in charge.
Particulars Of Accident.
The particulars Of the accident, as
told in the Gate City of Thursday ev-
ening. follow:
"The first catastrophe and death Of
a workman in preparing for the new
ST Mary's Catholic church. happened
about O'Clock Wednesday afternoon.
when James Beamer- a laborer Of Mar
shaIltown, was struck on the head and
shoulders by a truss weighing a ton,
and died ten minutes after the awful
accident. in ST. Joseph's hospital.
"Beamer with seven or eight other
workmen. was on the second floor
pulling on rope attached to one emo
Of the huge truss which supported the
rof at the rear Of the church The
front and center supporting beams had
been taken down and the rear one
above the rostrum had given way and
was hanging suspended on one side,
breaking out window as it fell against
the side Of the church wall. The work
ers wanted to pull the large piece down
10 WI n "a AsA@A'Ao >A->
the structure.
Gus Swanson. foreman of the work
men, had called to his helpers to keep
out of the way of the falling truss, be-
fore pulling at the rope attached to the
beam corner. AS the men pulled and
the end of the giant beams gave way,
exit was made from the rOStrum where
thew were standing to a room on the
Fourteenth street. side Of the building,
by part of the force and the others ran
TO a room on the Fifteenth street side
Of the oval shaped rostrum.
"Eyidently confused, according TO
those who witnessed the accident to
Beamer, the young man seeing some
run to one room and some to the other,
probably decided that the Fifteenth
street side would be the safer after he
had started for the room on the Four
teenth street side.
Struck Down A. He Turned.
"As Beamer turned 10 escape, the
ponderous weight of the truss struck
him on the head and shoulders. frac-
turing the skull and breaking the neck
of the unfortunate young workman.
Foreman Swanson was the first to
! reach the mans side and found him
unconscious no word or sound was
uttered by Beamer after he was struck
down by the ton weight OF the roof
support.
"A physician was INN ediately sum-
moned and temporary aid of bathing
the mans head and neck in water
were employed A few minutes later
Beaner was carried from the parish
! house porch where he had been taken
! first to the hospital.
Truss Of Great Weight.
"The falling truss which caused the
| death of Beamer Is built of 12x12 tim
| bers, about thirty feet in length, and
stood on a supporting beam, the width
| of the church. which is possibly fifty
feet wide Three Of these were used
! in supporting the roof and steel Orders
were used in attaching the cross pieces
to the trusses, just above the ceiling.
NO flesh wound was made by the
falling piece which struck Beamer
The rosIruln Is sixteen feet above
the main floor at the rear of the
church, and the work Of taking dowT
i the roof supports was an exceptional
~ dangerous one. The men realizing
this, took preca to keep out of the
way OF falling pieces.
Came Hero two Weeks Ago.
Jim Beamer, as he was known tc
IL
wrecking the old church building. came
here two weeks ago from Marshalltowr
with c. Il. Cramer. another laborer.
"Beamer leaves a father and mother
Mr.. and Mrs. J. Fl. Beamer, and two
sisters and brother in Marshalltown
residing at Railroad and Second streets
The Beamers have lived in Marshall.
town for about three years.
James BeaIner was known as al
honest. Industrious. young fellow ant
his untimely death is particular!
sad one At the meeting held in ST
Mary's school last evening, Fathe
GigliDger recommended the deceased
for prayers of the congregation.
Body in Morsus.
THE body Of Beamer was removed
to the morgue at the Hawkes. under
taking establishment last night. A tele
gram was received here by J. w
Cramer saying that relative woul,
arrive for the body today and inter
ment will take place at Marshalltown
News Of Minerva.
Miss Louise Harris, of Marshalltowr
uoe ~ oyor-Suuday ~,,oSt ~ NJ -,