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Joseph Adolph Dugal

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Joseph Adolph Dugal

Birth
Chippewa Falls, Chippewa County, Wisconsin, USA
Death
22 Oct 1895 (aged 40)
Chippewa Falls, Chippewa County, Wisconsin, USA
Burial
Chippewa Falls, Chippewa County, Wisconsin, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
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CRUSHED TO DEATH
Joseph Dugal Meets a Cruel Death Last Evening. Joseph Dugal, an ex-alderman from South Chippewa Falls, was instantly killed last evening at 5:30 while working upon the Chippewa river bridge, which is in course of repair. The unfortunate man and Mike Gonyea were engaged in fastening together by means of a bolt, three heavy pine timbers called needle beams beneath the bridge, when one of the beams 6x12 1/2 inches and 30 feet long fell from its bearings striking Dugal upon the head, crushing it in to a shapeless mass between two other timbers lying at his feet. Although the beam fell only about three feet its great weight did the cruel work and death was instantaneous. Beneath the bridge with Dougal were Mike Gonyea and Superintendent A. A. Arnold at the time of the accident, all the other laborers having gone above with their tools, quitting for the day and the remaining three were to follow in a few minutes more. Joseph Dugal was about 42 years old; almost a lifelong resident of Chippewa county and for a great many years a resident of Chippewa Falls. A wife, four children and an aged father dependent upon his labors survive him. Eau Claire Free Press, Thursday, October 24, 1895.

OBITUARY
KILLED WHILE AT WORK
SAD FATE OF JOSEPH DUGAL OF SOUTH CHIPPEWA
HEAVY TIMBER CRUSHES HIM
While at Work on the Chippewa River Bridge Last Night He Meets Instant Death. Joseph Dugal, a member of last year's common council and a highly esteemed resident of this city, met instant death last night while employed on the repair work being done to the Chippewa River Bridge. It was but a few moments before quitting time the accident happened that so suddenly snuffed out a life. Dugal and Mike Gonyea were putting a needle beam in place beneath the bridge, intending to fasten it for the time being so that the jarring of the bridge at night would not shake it from its resting place. The timber was green and wet and it moved readily on the iron cleats which held it at either end. Dugal was attempting to drive a bolt through it and two similar beams. Perhaps the jar of the blows shook it down or its falling might have been due to other causes; at any rate neither Dugal nor Gonyea was aware that their position was so dangerous. Gonyea saw it fall and shouted to his co-worker to beware but the warning came too late. The timber struck the dead man on the temple and jammed his head in such a manner that the skull was badly fractured.
The coroner's jury last night elicited the information that no one could well be blamed for the accident. Mr. Arnold, who is superintendent of the work, said that eight sets of beams had been put up in the same manner and the one which the men were working last night and Mr. Gonyea, who witnessed the accident, testified that he could not see that there was carelessness either on the part of the superintendent or employees.
Mr. Dugal was a member of the Catholic Knights in good standing. The funeral will take place tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock from Holy Ghost church.

At the time of Joseph's death, his wife, Anna, was pregnant. The shock of her husband's death, kept her over due and the baby died.
CRUSHED TO DEATH
Joseph Dugal Meets a Cruel Death Last Evening. Joseph Dugal, an ex-alderman from South Chippewa Falls, was instantly killed last evening at 5:30 while working upon the Chippewa river bridge, which is in course of repair. The unfortunate man and Mike Gonyea were engaged in fastening together by means of a bolt, three heavy pine timbers called needle beams beneath the bridge, when one of the beams 6x12 1/2 inches and 30 feet long fell from its bearings striking Dugal upon the head, crushing it in to a shapeless mass between two other timbers lying at his feet. Although the beam fell only about three feet its great weight did the cruel work and death was instantaneous. Beneath the bridge with Dougal were Mike Gonyea and Superintendent A. A. Arnold at the time of the accident, all the other laborers having gone above with their tools, quitting for the day and the remaining three were to follow in a few minutes more. Joseph Dugal was about 42 years old; almost a lifelong resident of Chippewa county and for a great many years a resident of Chippewa Falls. A wife, four children and an aged father dependent upon his labors survive him. Eau Claire Free Press, Thursday, October 24, 1895.

OBITUARY
KILLED WHILE AT WORK
SAD FATE OF JOSEPH DUGAL OF SOUTH CHIPPEWA
HEAVY TIMBER CRUSHES HIM
While at Work on the Chippewa River Bridge Last Night He Meets Instant Death. Joseph Dugal, a member of last year's common council and a highly esteemed resident of this city, met instant death last night while employed on the repair work being done to the Chippewa River Bridge. It was but a few moments before quitting time the accident happened that so suddenly snuffed out a life. Dugal and Mike Gonyea were putting a needle beam in place beneath the bridge, intending to fasten it for the time being so that the jarring of the bridge at night would not shake it from its resting place. The timber was green and wet and it moved readily on the iron cleats which held it at either end. Dugal was attempting to drive a bolt through it and two similar beams. Perhaps the jar of the blows shook it down or its falling might have been due to other causes; at any rate neither Dugal nor Gonyea was aware that their position was so dangerous. Gonyea saw it fall and shouted to his co-worker to beware but the warning came too late. The timber struck the dead man on the temple and jammed his head in such a manner that the skull was badly fractured.
The coroner's jury last night elicited the information that no one could well be blamed for the accident. Mr. Arnold, who is superintendent of the work, said that eight sets of beams had been put up in the same manner and the one which the men were working last night and Mr. Gonyea, who witnessed the accident, testified that he could not see that there was carelessness either on the part of the superintendent or employees.
Mr. Dugal was a member of the Catholic Knights in good standing. The funeral will take place tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock from Holy Ghost church.

At the time of Joseph's death, his wife, Anna, was pregnant. The shock of her husband's death, kept her over due and the baby died.


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