New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-16
ROCKEFELLER, JR., MISSES
DEATH BY FEW INCHES
Steel GirderS Fall from Root OF
Fathers House Among Work
men, Injuring Five.
HE LEAPS TO SAFE PLACE
Helps to Drag Victims from Un-
der Wreckage at Pocantico
Hills, and Gives First Aid
One Man Will Die.

| John d. Rockefeller. jr.. escaped death
| bly, injured, one fatally, in an accident
which occurred on Mr.. Rockefeller s
fathers house at Pocsntico Hills, at
4:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Mr..
Rockefeller hastened to give first aid to
the men, while he dispatched others TO
get doctors and nurses. The garage
was turned into a temporary hospital.
and there three doctors and five nurses
worked last night to save the lives OF the
injured men.
The family returned from Seal Har-
Dor, Me-. yesterday, and Mr.. Rockefeller
went up to the hill to see how the addi-
ton Of ten rooms TO his fathers house
was progressing The roof was being
raised to give space for ten additional
bedrooms As the men were hosting a
bundle of steel girders TO the roof the
tie rope broke and the steel slipped
through the moose.
Mr. Rockefeller saw what had hap
pened and realized the danger. He
yelled, Jump for your lives, men" and
then sprang back as the bundle OF steel
came crashing 10 the ground. large
number OF Italian Iaborers were al work
on the ground helping stone masons.
They did not realize the danger and
failed 10 grasp Mr.. Rockefellers warn
ing The bundle Of steel broke and the
beams scattered as they struck the
ground. moving the men down.
After the crash Mr.. Rockefeller rushed
in 10 pull the injured men from under
the pile Of steel. His hands and clothing
wee soon spattered with blood as he
helped in the work Of relief. Men rushed
into the house, and the telephones were
busy calling up doctors in Tarrytown.
DR.. A. c. Chase was soon on his way in
his automobile. and others quickly fol-
lowed
The Tarrytown Hospital was called up
and asked for aid, but word came back
that IL was filed up and could not
take the men. Mr.. Rockefeller then or
dered the garage made ready for a hos
an automobile was sent TO a drug store
fcr bandages and medicines. Five
trained nurses were taken TO Pocantico
Hills in automobiles. 1t was feared that
the men would die from loss OF blood.
All were unconscious. Or. Chase made
a hasty examination. and found that { 7e
man had a fractured skull and would
probably die Another was paralyzed,
while the other three men had bad cuts
on their head. but not fatal injuries.
Mrs. Rockefeller had been Informed Of
the accident and fearing that something
might have happened to her husband
rushed TO the stable. He tried TO lead
her away and told her everything pos
sible was being done to help the men.
She would not go into the house. how
ever. and stood by her husbands side,
eager 10 help and give suggestions.
After John d. Rockefeller. sr.. had
completed his handsome home on the
hill at a cost of about S2,OWWO he
found he had made a mistake in not
providing enough bedrooms. This was
made evident when his daughter, Mrs.
Harold Mccormick. visited him with her
children. There was no place for them
TO sleep without taking the servants
rooms on the top floor, and these were
small. He lived in the house this spring,
and after he went to Cleveland the con-
tractors took charge.
The steel work was subcontracted TO
the Goodwin company, and the men who
were injured were employed by Joseph
Verandi. an Italian stonemason. Mr..
Rockefeller has been unfortunate in his
houses at Pocantico Hills. Two Of them
were destroyed by fire.