Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-23
OPEN VERDICT IN
W. COTT'S DEATH
Nc Blame Fixed by Coroner for Fatal
Accident al Republic Steel
Mills.
PINNED Down UNDER BOILER
Weight ii Load Carried by Crane Up
sets Gar ON Hheh lie Was work
iag-Dies In Agony.

1t tle coroHer's inquest held at 10
O'Clock this morning at Knoz's under
taking pariora over the remains Of
Waiter ". Colt. locomotive crane op-
orator nj tine Republic Iron 4 Steel
plant who died Saturday night at the
Moline hospital from injuries sustain
ed "A an accident an open verdict
was returned Cott was badly scaIded
and crushed Internally when the crane
and dummy engine upset pinning him
underneath the boiler After suffer
ing untold agony for siz hours he died
at the hospital
II was Colts duty to operate a
crane on dummy engine in unloading
rails from lat cars 10 the skid. where
the rails are pushed to the breaker.
At the time og the accident the crane
was working on d curve in the tracks.
the north rail being slightly elevated.
Peter Poulos and George Scourtier.
two workmen on the goudoia car, and
Frank Groyock. at the skds, were the
only w0rkmeu present when the mis-
hap occurred poutos and Scourtier
had fastened the chains about bun
die Of rails weighing in the ueighboT-
hood Of five tons.
At their word, Colt raised the load
gHghtIy above the level OF the car
From some uuaccouutable cause, the
load swung 10 the south, instead Of
the north. where the rails were to be
unloaded on the skids. The momen-
tum OF the heavy load caused the
dummy engine and crane TO fall TO-
ward the south Colt was unable to
jump and was pinned underneath the
boiler. His fellow worlCuen ran 70
the spot, but were unable to eXtriCate
him from his periious position for
nearly 30 minutes Colt was badly
scalded by escaping steam from the
boiler. The workmen poured water
on the FIRE ia the boiler, hoping to
lessen the pain Of the unfortunate
man, but this only caused more steam.
DR. A. II. arp was called and the in
tured man rushed TO the hospital. In
spite Of all medical skill could do for
him, he expired at IL o'clock. His
wife had been summoned and was al
the bedside when the end came.
George A. Pickup, 444 Forty-fourth
street, master mechanic al the works,
testified that he was not present when
the accident occurred. Pickup stated
that the engine and crane, which
weighed 10000 pounds. had been re
placed on tine track today and that
only few steam pipes We're broken
when # fell
William A. Colt. father OF the de
ceased who resides in Davenport.
stated that he was at the scene Of the
accident yesterday and upon examina-
tion found that no outriggers nor any
other contrivance had been placed on
the engine 10 brace il While at work.
and he considered the outfit unsafe
for any man to work with. POuIos ex-
planned that the load taken on the
crane just before the accident was no
heavier than the loads usually hand
led.
Cott was badly burned about the
lower limbs aud right side and also
suffered internal injuries.
Born in East.
Walter ". Colt was born In Buffalo,
N. Y, July %, 1884. He had spent the
most of his life in the east, coming to
Rock Island eight years ago, and had
resided here since. Nine months ago
he was united IN marriage TO Miss
Efie Atkins in this city. Prior TO his
employment at the steel min he had
been engaged in railroading and was
an electrician by trade.
Besides his wife, he is survived by
his father. William A. Cots Of Daven-
port; his mother, who resides in Buff
falo, N Y, and one sister, Mrs. Il.
c. Bricknell of Buffalo.
Funeral services will be conducted
at $50 tomorrow afternoon at Knox's
chapel, Rev w. c. OgIevee officiating.
with interment in Chippiannock Gem
etery.