New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-01
'SCHWANNECKE DIES AT s.
Coroner Killed by Fall In Tunnel
Investigating a Death.
WAS SERVING SECOND TERM
Expires in Few Hours After
Treating Accident Lightly on
Emerging to the Street.

Albert F. Schwannecke, serving his sec
ond term as Coroner in The Bronx, died
yesterday morning at his home, No. 1851
Boston Road, as the result of an injury
received on Monday night, when he slipped
and fell at the bottom Of the Ashokan water
supply shaft at Sedgwick avenue and Mo-
sholu Parkway, to which he had descended
TO investigate the case OF a negro shaft
worker who had been killed by a cavern
Of rock. He was walking through the dark
tunnel when the accident occurred and he
landed heavily on his back and head
The Coroner was at his home on Monday
night. when he received a call to investi-
gate the death of the laborer He dressed
and in few minutes was In his automobile.
As soon as he arrived at the shaft opening
and learned that the mans body was at
tho bottom of the hole, $50 feet below the
| surface, he determined TO descend, in order
to make a thorough investigation.
After being lowered to the bottom Of the
. shaft In the bucket elevator Schwannecke
started down the long tunnel leading from
the bottom OF the shaft, under the guid-
! ance Of the foreman. The tJonel is cut
through solid rock. and the harrow path
way was Uttered with powders and tools
There was no light in It. and when he fell
his head struck a rock on the tunnel wall,
which cut cash.
Although he was suffering severe pain
the Coroner persisted In completing his In
vestigatlon and assembled 10 the street after
viewing the body Of the negro and taking
notes as to the probable cause OF the cave
In Then he complained again OF a pain In
his head, but continued 10 treat the acci-
dent lightly and returned to his house.
He Immediately went 10 bed and slept
until about midnight, when he was awak-
ened BY pains In his abdomea. Before ne
could summon assistance q gastric hem
orrhaga developed and the Coroner rapidly
lost strength. DR.. Thomas II. Curtin, Cor
oner Shongut's physician, but friend oil
years standing to Schwannecke, was
called, and he summoned his assistant. DR..
Dunning The two physicians worked
hours over the Coroner. who had become
unconscious, without being able 20 revive
him.
Just before lie lapsed into unconscious
ness Coroner Schwannecke murmured:
I'm never go into a shaft again; this is
the end for me"
Or. Curtin was greatly affected by the
death OF his friend, who, he said, had
died a martyr to duty.
Mr. Schwannecke was born IN Germany
flfty-three years ago, and was brought to
this country when he was six years old by
his father, DR.. Henry s. Schwannecke. at
the time that Carl Schurz and General
Franz Siegel came here. The Schwan-
neckes located in Tho Bronx. where Dr..
Schwannecke began TO practise his pro-
fesson. Albert received his preliminary
education in The Bronx public schools and
afterward took course in general phar-
macy.
Ito first engaged IN business a real
estate agent. and from that went into the
bonding business He was employed by
the American Bonding Company until
about six years ago. and then he formed
the Albert F. Schwannecke Bonding Com
panv ar No. I Madison avenue, retaining
his interest IN II I'D 10 the time Of his
death
A. Coroner during two terms Mr..
Schwannecke vas widely known In The
Bronx Because OF his appearance, his
friends always referred 10 him as The
Count and he had many friends in the
borough.
Coroner Schwanuecka was a member OF
the New York Athletic Club. the Elks tho
Schnorers, the Red Bank Yacht Club, Pton-
eer Republican club and The Bronx Club.
He leaves j wife and five children.
The funeral will be held from his home,
40. 1857 Boston Road. Friday morning at
10 o'clock and the burial Will be IN Wood
Il