The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-08-09
MAN ENTOMBED
TN DITCH LIVES
Five Tons of Dirt and Big
Paving Block Cave in on
Tony Donate.
SHOULDER FRACTURED
Is Laying Sewer at Sheridan
and Ounce when Rain Weak
ened Ditch Wall Falls.

Buried under five tons of dirt, and
pinned down by paving block weigh
ing more than a ton, Tony Donate, AZ
years, of 1861 Garden street, escaped
with his life when sewer ditch In
which he was working caved in fol-
lowing Yesterdays rain. He is at the
Kenosha hospital suffering from
broken left shoulder and minor
bruises.
A steam shovel owned by Marcus
Thompson, and in charge of Engineer
Jens Jensen, had just begun work on
the new sewerage ditch, recently au-
thorized by the city at Sheridan road
and Ounce street. The shovel, start
ing in where Tony and two compan-
ions had dug by hand around gas
mains, had gone but few feet when
the walls, weakened by the rain, start
ed to give way.
"Run''-Companions Warn.
Hearing the warning shouted by his
companions to run for his life, Tony
started down the ditch. But the fall
ing earth caught him and closed over
his head. 1t was then that the big
paving block, the support of which had
gone, tumbled into the hole. An edge
of the block landed on the dirt, which
lit was at first thought covered the
buried mans head.
Jensen Immediately took command
of the situation. Under his direction
other Worknen leaped down and began
quickly scraping the loose dirt away.
Within ten minutes they had gotten
Tony's head free, but his body was
pinned under by the weight of the
huge cement block.
Hoist Block With Shovel.
Jensen then mounted the machine
and began carefully manipulating the
levers which swung the big shovel up
against the edge of the block. The
teeth of the shovel were within a few
tinches of the buried mans head. If
the teeth held while Jensen moved the
block, he was safe, but should they
slip from the hard surface of the ce-
ment, there was iminent danger of
weight falling on Tony and instantly
killing him. 1t was the only thing
that could be done to free the i'm
prisoned man, and Jensen took the
chance.
The shovel came solidly against the
block. Jensen let a little steam into
the engine and slowly the stone began
to move, while Tony muttered prayers
and the watching workmen held their
breath. 1t moved by inches, then by
/ feet and at last the workmen could
commence to dig about the man. He
was able to walk when helped out of
! the pit.
Ambulance is Called.
! In the meantime bystanders had
called the police ambulance and the
man was rushed to Kenosha hospital.
An examination showed that he had
suffered broken shoulder, crushed by
the weight of the block, and that his
face was badly scratched, Otherwise,
it was said that his physical condition
was good, and there was no danger of
! his injuries proving fatal.
Jensen said that this was the first
serious accident that had happened
to any of the crew of the machine dur
ing the seven years he had been work
ing the shovel. Tony, he said, had
been with the outfit for the past three
years He told men that he had a
wife and two children in Italy. He
said that he was saving his money to
pay their transportation to this coun-
try.