Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-07-10

rive men miraeulously escaped
death when fifteen tons of earth
caved in on them at S:15 o'clock this
morning while they were engaged In
excaVating for the new F. F. Proctor
Theatre at ia and 116 Market street.
entombing them to their chests in
dirt for hours before the last man
was rescued
Four of the injured were removed
to the City Hospital suffering from
shock, abrasions and bruises, with
possible internal injuries. The hos
pital authorities would not state
whether or not the injuries would re-
suit fatally.
After considering the seriousness OF
the affair and the fatal consequences
which might have resulted from the
cave-in, William P. O'Rourke, Super
intendent of buildings ordered all
work on the new building and the ex-
cavating for the same to be discon-
tinued Immediately and to remain
halted until the excavating work is
placed IN the hands of Competent
contractor in order that it shan not
only be properly done. but that no
human lives might he sacrificed.
At o'clock four laborers, under
Horace Middleton. bricklayer. who
was acting as foreman, descended
into the hole, which was about
thirty-five feet below the curb line.
and were engaged in digging foot
ing for steel column, where their
movements caused a landslide of the
gravel which had been undermined
by the terrific rain storm early this
morning.
Two laborers, who had not de-
scended into the pit, gave the alarm
and Immediately Joseph Moore, Of
10 High street, employed in Ludwig
Baumann's warehouse, which is near
by and Benjamin Reuben, of % Ship
man street. responded. By the time
of their arrival, Middleton, who had
been buried up to his chest, and was
cut about his head, and sustained
severe injuries to his spine, had
extricated himself. and his orders to
the two laborers on the outside to
go to the rescue of their fellow-
workmen. were unheeded.
work Naiiantiy to Rescue.
Moore and Reuben, however, de-
scended into the pit and worked
valiently in strengthening the
snoring and trying to give the en-
tombed men whatever relief was
possible until the arrival of the mem-
bers of Hook and Ladder Company
No. l. under the direction of Chief
Moore, of the fire department. who
was quickly Joined by the reserves
from the First precinct, and Assistant
superintendent of Buildings John Fl.
O'Rourke.
Chief Paul Moore and Assist
ant superintendent O'Rourke held
hurried conference with Will
lam Morgan, who was in
charge of the excaating work for
of New York, the architect for the
building, and all hands were put to
work bracing the snoring and putt
ting in supports to prevent further
caving in. All this time the four
men were buried up to their chests
and were begging pitifully to be
taken out
Moore and Reuben stuck to their
tasks and worked like beavers in dig
ging away the earth from the rapidly
suffocating prisoners. Finally at $50
Charles Duncan, a negro. of 90 Hill
street. was brought to the surface in
an unconscious condition. He was
given a stimulant and fastened to
the City Hospital in an ambulnace
in charge of DR.. Herban.
Sffn,uIanfs Adruiniataraa
Dr. John Hemeath, of S6 Spruce
street, remained on the scene and di-
rected that stimulants be supplied
the other men in the pit, and at 10
o'clock Sidney j. Smith, also negro.
of IS Wilson place, Orange, was
brought to the surface He was suf-
fering severely from shock and sew
eral decorations about his face and
scalp from which blood was flowing
profusely. -
As Smiths body was taken from
the hole another cave-in occurred.
throwing at least another ton OF
earth on the remaining two men, and
fears for their safety were enter
| tained by all present. For thirty-five
minutes all hands worked before Ger
ardo Lardierio. of 80 Factory street.
was rescued at 1876 o'clock. His
condition was pronounced as the
most serious of any so far rescued.
He was unconscious and was bleed
ing from his nose. though no bones
were broken.
At 10:42 o'clock Samuel Evans a
negro, of SO Central avenue, was
rescued and appeared to be the least
injured of any of the men entombed.