FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT, Mr. Timothy O'Donnell - 1870

ODONNELL, BIGELOW

Posted By: cheryl Locher moonen (email)
Date: 8/12/2019 at 09:15:02

Dubuque Daily Times, Friday, Jul 15, 1870, Dubuque, IA, Page: 3

FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT
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A Laborer Instantly Killed by
the Fall of a Large Stone
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One of the most frightful accidents that we have been called upon to notice in a long time occurred at the Monastery of the Christian Brothers yesterday. As is well known the Brothers are constructing a monastery that is destined to be the wonder of this whole western region, all of the walls being composed of cut stone. One of the side wings is nearly up, and a large force of masons is constantly employed in pushing the structure forward to completion. Among this class of labors was a man from Dubuque, named Timothy O’Donnell, who has a large family residing up Langworthy Hollow, a short distance back of Heeb’s Brewery. It seems the workmen were attempting to raise a large stone, weighing over two hundred pounds, by the means of a derrick to the top of one of the wing walls over sixty feet in height, and had got it nearly to the top, when it slipped and came down with frightful velocity. All of the laborers, with the exception of O’Donnell, succeeded in getting out of the way, but the latter being bent over his work at the time, did not see the danger, and the massive piece of rock struck him full and fair upon the back of his head, literally crushing it like an eggshell, and scattering the brains of the unfortunate man all over the adjoining wall and his fellow workmen. A shout of horror rose even from the passive Brothers at the sight, but poor O’Donnell heeded it not, for he was killed so quickly, that in common parlance he could never have known what hurt him. The mangled remains were soon gathered up, and news of the terrible accident dispatched to the bereaved family in the city. Dr. Bigelow of Washington Township, who had been summoned to attend some patients at the Monastery, was an eye witness of the whole occurrence, and declares that the scene was too shocking for description. The family of the deceased, we understand, is in poor circumstances, and in this grievous affliction the substantial sympathy of the entire community should be lavished upon them.