People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 September 1895 — FALLS ON WORKMEN. [ARTICLE]

FALLS ON WORKMEN.

STATE FAIR STRUCTURE AT SPRINGFIELD COLLAPSES. Two Workmen Are Killed and Five Persons laiiillv Injured—Five Men Asphyxiated by Gas in a Cellar at Providence, R. I. Springfield. 111., Sept. s.—At 2:20 o'clock yesterday afternoon, the west wall, near the southwest corner of the new Machinery Hall building, at the state fair grounds, spread in such a manner as to cause the roof to cave in, burying nine men under the tons of debris. All but two were taken out alive. The dead are: HARRY HOBSON, plumber, aged 30 and married, crushed and suffocated. The injured are: James Parke, plumber, married but two weeks. Charles Brownell, water boy, aged 13. both legs iftid arms and several ribs broken; can not live. Nelson Williamson, carpenter, both legs broken. Samuel Davenport, boss carpenter, badly injured by falling bricks. Fred Beard, carpenter, arm broken. James Clancy, leg broken. The accident happened without the slightest warning, it was probably due to the fact that the work had been pushed, owing to the near approach of the fair. The heavy rain Tuesday night, no doubt, loosened the plastering. Some eighteen men had just left that, portion of the roof a few moments before it collapsed. The damage is estimated at about $2,500.

FIVE WOKKMKN KILLED. Aipliyxlatrd by I.hh In u Cellar at I’rovlilenee. It. I. Providence, R. 1., Sept. 5. —Five employes of the Providence Gas company met death by asphyxiation in the cellar of the Westfield street gas holder yesterday afternoon. The dead are: COTTON, 26 years old, single. BTLEY, 45, married, with six children. M’MANUS, married. BURNS, 19. M’NA.MEE, 36, single, Brook street. Leaking gas had been detected in the holder for several days, and yesterday the company sent six men and a foreman to repair the leak. The men had returned from dinner at 1 o’clock, and, going down the wooden stairs which led from the entrance of the holder to the cellar below, began to work on the broken valve. They disconnected it and tied a cloth bag about the large main, when the bag gave way and an immense volume of gas rushed out. They were instantly overcome, with the exception of one, who managed to grope up the stairs, where the fresh air enabled him to recover sufficiently to reach the street. Foreman Allen took a hand In the excavation and was overcome before the digging had proceeded far. He was taken to the Rhode Island hospital in the ambulance, which arrived a short time before. His life is despaired *of.