The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-03-11
Workmen Engaged in Wreekins the
Old Bending Works Caught
Under colIapsing Wall
and Badly Hurt.
FELL WITHOUT WARNING
Injured Men Are Removed to Hospital
and Medical Aid Rendered-AIi
Reported Resting
Easily.

ne oiu Mlifs-DilSworth bending
works on the Canal road and FIT
teenth street, was the scene OF bad
accident late yesterday afternoon
when four workmen who were engag-
ed in the work of wrecking the old
plant we're caught by falling wall
and buried under tons of debris.
All the men were more or less ser.
iously hurt and were hurried to a
hospital and given the best OF medi-
cal aid This morning all were re-
ported as resting easily and no fatali-
ties are expected.
The men injured were employed by
II. D. Fleming and John W. Young.
local contractors, and for several days
had been wrecking the old plant, the
factory having been moved to the
new location In the west end of the
city. The old site will be overioweo
by the water when the dam is COM
i pleted.
The building had been Quilted and
only the walls remained. 1t was not
thought to be in dangerous condi-
ton, but while the men were working
inside, the wall collapsed without
warning, burying the men under tons
OF brick, iron and wood. At first i
was thought that they were all killed
and hurry calls were sent to several
physicians who arrived while the
work OF rescue was going on
The men who were injured were
Andrew Stevens. 1924 n. Fifteenth
street, John Kimler, 1900 Orlean.
avenue, Homer Pinnell and Car
Swanson. The latter was taken &c
his home this morning, suffering oni,
a few bruises. but the others are sti.
confined to their beds at Graham hos
pital.
]. H. Ellsworth, treasurer and man
rger of the Mills Ellsworth company
declared this morning that he coult
mo- give any details of the acciden
as he was not present whel it hap
pened. He said that he understood
that the men were caught by the fall
ing wall, but that he could not plac,
the blame. The men. according to Nj
Ellsworth. were in the employe o
John ". Young and that he had no
investigated the matter as yet.
When the report of the acciden
first reached the city. it was repor. e.
that several men had been Instant
killed and number of curious pee
pie went to the scene
Ial,p vo,,,o, 49, -.
had charge of the work, could not /.
found today, but his son who is assr
ciated with him in the work declare
that no blame could be placed on an,
one for the accident as no one kney
exactly how IT happened,
Mr.. Young said hat the men ha
had specific instructions to see tina
| the walls were well braced and tina
| these instructions had seemingf
been carried out The men wer
working on the first floor of the buiIo
J ing when, without he slightest war;
/ Ing the wall collapsed and buried tn
Il men.
Il Carl Swanson. a carpenter. ha
4 been placed In charge OF the wreck
4 ing crew and neither Mr.. Young or hi
II son were at the scene when the acc
Il dent happened. Swanson said thi
Il afternoon that the accident was
II mystery to him for he had PERSONAL
y seen that the wall was we'll bracet
He Is still confined to his bed at hi
:. home suffering with severe cut
around his head and sprained bacl
, It was reported today that the me
who were working on the place thI
j. morning became frightened when tn
Z wall cracked and left the work. refr
j. ing 70 return. but John w. Young TIL
contractor denied this report at moo
/ and said that there was 20 much d.
i. hris hat all his men could not wor
= there and were sent to another job
: Mr. Young declared that the ace
!: dent would not be allowed to afYet
i the work and that the wrecking
!. going on az usual this afternoon.