San Antonio Daily Light, July 27, 1904, Wednesday
SUNSET PILE DRIVER WRECKED YESTERDAY
THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE SABINAL BRIDGE
Harry Alder, the Engineer, and Ben Johnson, His Fireman, Lost Their Lives When the Ponderous Machine Was Overturned.
Through the overturning of the Southern Pacific pile driver at the Sabinal bridge, shortly after 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon, two men were instantly killed and two slightly injured. The driver which is a convertible pile driver and derrick was at work in the latter capacity when the terrible accident occurred. A force of men were at work in rebuilding that structure with heavier steel and as the derrick was in the act of shifting a bottom cord of iron weighing some seven tons to the north side of the bridge when the driver overturned. The heavy object was being hoisted from two flat cars when it suddenly swayed bringing the cars and derrick down with it. Harry Alder, the engineer of the "dinky" engine which was used to drive pile and raise objects as a derrick, jumped and was instantly killed by the fall. Ben Johnson, his fireman, stayed with the car and was frightfully crushed.
Frank Proske and F.W. Sharpe, the two men operating the derrick, jumped from the falling iron cars onto the bridge and escaped with slight bruises. Word was wired to San Antonio of the accident and the steam wrecker in charge of William Dunn was sent to the scene from here at 4:30 o'clock. On board of this relief train were Dr. T.T. Jackson, the company surgeon, with stretchers, and H.F. Anderson, division superintendent. The accident caused a complete stoppage of traffic on each side of the bridge and a bridge gang was put to work in repairing the structure which was thrown some fourteen inches out of line by the accident. The damage was repaired at 1:30 o'clock this morning and No. 10, the passenger train due here at 8 o'clock last night pulled into the station at 4 o'clock, having on board the dead and injured. The remains of Alder were removed to his home, 321 Willow street, while those of Johnson were taken to a local undertaker's to await advices from relatives at Marble Falls and Burnett. The injured wee sent to the Santa Rosa hospital for treatment. Harry Alder, the dead engineer, is well known in San Antonio, having resided here for some time and was with the Sunset for a number of years as engineer on the pile driver. He is survived by a wife and two children who are prostrated over the terrible happening.
The pile driver and cars which went to the bottom of the bridge were totally wrecked.
The funeral of Alder will take place this afternoon at 5 o'clock from his late home, 221 Willow street and interment will take place in city cemetery No. 1.
The remains of Johnson have been ordered to be shipped to J.B. McDonald at Burnett, Texas.
Note: Henry Alder left three children at the time of his death.
SUNSET PILE DRIVER WRECKED YESTERDAY
THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE SABINAL BRIDGE
Harry Alder, the Engineer, and Ben Johnson, His Fireman, Lost Their Lives When the Ponderous Machine Was Overturned.
Through the overturning of the Southern Pacific pile driver at the Sabinal bridge, shortly after 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon, two men were instantly killed and two slightly injured. The driver which is a convertible pile driver and derrick was at work in the latter capacity when the terrible accident occurred. A force of men were at work in rebuilding that structure with heavier steel and as the derrick was in the act of shifting a bottom cord of iron weighing some seven tons to the north side of the bridge when the driver overturned. The heavy object was being hoisted from two flat cars when it suddenly swayed bringing the cars and derrick down with it. Harry Alder, the engineer of the "dinky" engine which was used to drive pile and raise objects as a derrick, jumped and was instantly killed by the fall. Ben Johnson, his fireman, stayed with the car and was frightfully crushed.
Frank Proske and F.W. Sharpe, the two men operating the derrick, jumped from the falling iron cars onto the bridge and escaped with slight bruises. Word was wired to San Antonio of the accident and the steam wrecker in charge of William Dunn was sent to the scene from here at 4:30 o'clock. On board of this relief train were Dr. T.T. Jackson, the company surgeon, with stretchers, and H.F. Anderson, division superintendent. The accident caused a complete stoppage of traffic on each side of the bridge and a bridge gang was put to work in repairing the structure which was thrown some fourteen inches out of line by the accident. The damage was repaired at 1:30 o'clock this morning and No. 10, the passenger train due here at 8 o'clock last night pulled into the station at 4 o'clock, having on board the dead and injured. The remains of Alder were removed to his home, 321 Willow street, while those of Johnson were taken to a local undertaker's to await advices from relatives at Marble Falls and Burnett. The injured wee sent to the Santa Rosa hospital for treatment. Harry Alder, the dead engineer, is well known in San Antonio, having resided here for some time and was with the Sunset for a number of years as engineer on the pile driver. He is survived by a wife and two children who are prostrated over the terrible happening.
The pile driver and cars which went to the bottom of the bridge were totally wrecked.
The funeral of Alder will take place this afternoon at 5 o'clock from his late home, 221 Willow street and interment will take place in city cemetery No. 1.
The remains of Johnson have been ordered to be shipped to J.B. McDonald at Burnett, Texas.
Note: Henry Alder left three children at the time of his death.
San Antonio Daily Light, July 27, 1904, Wednesday
SUNSET PILE DRIVER WRECKED YESTERDAY
THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE SABINAL BRIDGE
Harry Alder, the Engineer, and Ben Johnson, His Fireman, Lost Their Lives When the Ponderous Machine Was Overturned.
Through the overturning of the Southern Pacific pile driver at the Sabinal bridge, shortly after 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon, two men were instantly killed and two slightly injured. The driver which is a convertible pile driver and derrick was at work in the latter capacity when the terrible accident occurred. A force of men were at work in rebuilding that structure with heavier steel and as the derrick was in the act of shifting a bottom cord of iron weighing some seven tons to the north side of the bridge when the driver overturned. The heavy object was being hoisted from two flat cars when it suddenly swayed bringing the cars and derrick down with it. Harry Alder, the engineer of the "dinky" engine which was used to drive pile and raise objects as a derrick, jumped and was instantly killed by the fall. Ben Johnson, his fireman, stayed with the car and was frightfully crushed.
Frank Proske and F.W. Sharpe, the two men operating the derrick, jumped from the falling iron cars onto the bridge and escaped with slight bruises. Word was wired to San Antonio of the accident and the steam wrecker in charge of William Dunn was sent to the scene from here at 4:30 o'clock. On board of this relief train were Dr. T.T. Jackson, the company surgeon, with stretchers, and H.F. Anderson, division superintendent. The accident caused a complete stoppage of traffic on each side of the bridge and a bridge gang was put to work in repairing the structure which was thrown some fourteen inches out of line by the accident. The damage was repaired at 1:30 o'clock this morning and No. 10, the passenger train due here at 8 o'clock last night pulled into the station at 4 o'clock, having on board the dead and injured. The remains of Alder were removed to his home, 321 Willow street, while those of Johnson were taken to a local undertaker's to await advices from relatives at Marble Falls and Burnett. The injured wee sent to the Santa Rosa hospital for treatment. Harry Alder, the dead engineer, is well known in San Antonio, having resided here for some time and was with the Sunset for a number of years as engineer on the pile driver. He is survived by a wife and two children who are prostrated over the terrible happening.
The pile driver and cars which went to the bottom of the bridge were totally wrecked.
The funeral of Alder will take place this afternoon at 5 o'clock from his late home, 221 Willow street and interment will take place in city cemetery No. 1.
The remains of Johnson have been ordered to be shipped to J.B. McDonald at Burnett, Texas.
Note: Henry Alder left three children at the time of his death.
SUNSET PILE DRIVER WRECKED YESTERDAY
THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE SABINAL BRIDGE
Harry Alder, the Engineer, and Ben Johnson, His Fireman, Lost Their Lives When the Ponderous Machine Was Overturned.
Through the overturning of the Southern Pacific pile driver at the Sabinal bridge, shortly after 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon, two men were instantly killed and two slightly injured. The driver which is a convertible pile driver and derrick was at work in the latter capacity when the terrible accident occurred. A force of men were at work in rebuilding that structure with heavier steel and as the derrick was in the act of shifting a bottom cord of iron weighing some seven tons to the north side of the bridge when the driver overturned. The heavy object was being hoisted from two flat cars when it suddenly swayed bringing the cars and derrick down with it. Harry Alder, the engineer of the "dinky" engine which was used to drive pile and raise objects as a derrick, jumped and was instantly killed by the fall. Ben Johnson, his fireman, stayed with the car and was frightfully crushed.
Frank Proske and F.W. Sharpe, the two men operating the derrick, jumped from the falling iron cars onto the bridge and escaped with slight bruises. Word was wired to San Antonio of the accident and the steam wrecker in charge of William Dunn was sent to the scene from here at 4:30 o'clock. On board of this relief train were Dr. T.T. Jackson, the company surgeon, with stretchers, and H.F. Anderson, division superintendent. The accident caused a complete stoppage of traffic on each side of the bridge and a bridge gang was put to work in repairing the structure which was thrown some fourteen inches out of line by the accident. The damage was repaired at 1:30 o'clock this morning and No. 10, the passenger train due here at 8 o'clock last night pulled into the station at 4 o'clock, having on board the dead and injured. The remains of Alder were removed to his home, 321 Willow street, while those of Johnson were taken to a local undertaker's to await advices from relatives at Marble Falls and Burnett. The injured wee sent to the Santa Rosa hospital for treatment. Harry Alder, the dead engineer, is well known in San Antonio, having resided here for some time and was with the Sunset for a number of years as engineer on the pile driver. He is survived by a wife and two children who are prostrated over the terrible happening.
The pile driver and cars which went to the bottom of the bridge were totally wrecked.
The funeral of Alder will take place this afternoon at 5 o'clock from his late home, 221 Willow street and interment will take place in city cemetery No. 1.
The remains of Johnson have been ordered to be shipped to J.B. McDonald at Burnett, Texas.
Note: Henry Alder left three children at the time of his death.
Inscription
Henry
Father
The Lord is my shepherd
Gravesite Details
The Alder Family Plot Memorial is the taller stone. Each grave has its own grave marker.
Family Members
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