Detroit News, Detroit, Michigan, Monday, September 9, 1907, page 4, column 8
FUNERAL OF ALEX. WATT
St. Andrew's piper, Killed at Ford Building, Is Buried Today
The Funeral of Alexander S. Watt, Detroit's champion piper, who was killed last week by the fall of an elevator at the new Ford building, will take place this afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Watt home on Fairview avenue. The St. Andrew's Society, of which Watt was long a member, will have charge of the funeral, assisted by the members of the bricklayers' union, to which the dead man belonged.
At 1 o'clock the St.Andrew's men meet at their hall, 46 Grand River avenue and, headed by their pipers' band, go by car to the Watt house. Funeral services will be conducted by Rev. Edward H. Pende, of the Fort Street Presbyterian church, assisted by Rev. Dr. Urquhart, of Wyandotte, St. Andrew's chaplain.
Three selections will be sung during the services, "My Ain Countrie" by Mrs. Haysted and R. S. Rankin; "Thy Will Be Done," by Mrs. Haysted assisted by the St. Andrew's quartet, and "Weep Not," by the quartet, R. S. Rankin, Dr. G. S. Field, Wm. Duncan and Chas. Berry.
The pallbearers, six each from St. Andrew's society and the bricklayers union, are as follows: St. Andrew's - James Smith, David Dick, Robert Schram, James Maitland, Wm. Edward and Don McLeod; bricklayers - Gus Peters, Alex. Todd, Frank Weiby, Alex. Roberts, Geo. McMaster and E. Heiderman.
At Woodmere cemetery the service will be read by Dr. Urquhart and the pipers will play.
____________________________________
Detroit News, Detroit, Michigan, Friday, September 6, 1907, front page and The Chesley Enterprise, Chesley , Ontario, Thursday, September 12, 1907
LOSES LIFE ON "LIGHTNING LIFT"
ALEX. S. WATT, FAMED SCOTCH PIPER, KILLED IN FORD BUILDING.
Was Going Up Elevator Shaft When Car Jumped Guards, Slides and Dropped Its Rider
Hurled from the fourth floor of the new Ford building to the bottom of the elevator shaft and there crushed between two barrels of concrete with which he was riding to the top of the structure when the elevator jumped its guard slides and tipped over at 1 o'clock this afternoon. Alex. S. Watt, of 17 Fairview avenue, foreman for the National Tiling Co., sustained injuries from which he died in St. Mary's hospital within ten minutes after the accident occurred.
The elevator was not more heavily loaded than usual, the men who were working near the shaft say, when it tipped over. It was the one known to the workers as the "lightning lift" because of the speed it attained in carrying material to the top of the building. No explanation is offered as to why it should have jumped the guard rails. That it left them with considerable force is shown by the fact that the slides on both sides of the shaft were shattered.
As the elevator jumped the grooves, it tipped slantingly, and then fell to the bottom of the shaft. Watt was not thrown from it when it tipped and went the entire four stories down on it. His despair cry as the elevator broke and started for the ground chilled the blood in the veins of the workers near the shaft. They rushed over to it just in time to see the wrecked elevator strike the bottom and its concrete freight pin Watt against the side of the shaft.
When they extricated him from the wreckage he was unconscious and his head was all crushed in about the left temple.
His fellow workmen carried him out to the roadway that runs to the main floor of the building and there laid him down on some sacks. One ran for water and stimulants , while others fanned him with handkerchiefs, coats, and sacks, and others sponged his face. It was easily seen that his injuries were fatal.
Patrolman Edwards, a lifelong friend of the injuried man, called the Detroit ambulance. It arrived about five minutes after the accident . Just as it dashed up to St. Mary's hospital, Watt breathed his last.
Watt was well known among the builders in this city and had a host of friends among the workmen employed in various constructing companies. He was also one of the most enthusiastic members of the St. Andrew's Society. At the recent picnic of that organization at Bois Blanc he took first place for his appearance in Highland costume and his skill in playing the bagpipes.
FUNERAL OF ALEX. WATT
St. Andrew's piper, Killed at Ford Building, Is Buried Today
The Funeral of Alexander S. Watt, Detroit's champion piper, who was killed last week by the fall of an elevator at the new Ford building, will take place this afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Watt home on Fairview avenue. The St. Andrew's Society, of which Watt was long a member, will have charge of the funeral, assisted by the members of the bricklayers' union, to which the dead man belonged.
At 1 o'clock the St.Andrew's men meet at their hall, 46 Grand River avenue and, headed by their pipers' band, go by car to the Watt house. Funeral services will be conducted by Rev. Edward H. Pende, of the Fort Street Presbyterian church, assisted by Rev. Dr. Urquhart, of Wyandotte, St. Andrew's chaplain.
Three selections will be sung during the services, "My Ain Countrie" by Mrs. Haysted and R. S. Rankin; "Thy Will Be Done," by Mrs. Haysted assisted by the St. Andrew's quartet, and "Weep Not," by the quartet, R. S. Rankin, Dr. G. S. Field, Wm. Duncan and Chas. Berry.
The pallbearers, six each from St. Andrew's society and the bricklayers union, are as follows: St. Andrew's - James Smith, David Dick, Robert Schram, James Maitland, Wm. Edward and Don McLeod; bricklayers - Gus Peters, Alex. Todd, Frank Weiby, Alex. Roberts, Geo. McMaster and E. Heiderman.
At Woodmere cemetery the service will be read by Dr. Urquhart and the pipers will play.
____________________________________
Detroit News, Detroit, Michigan, Friday, September 6, 1907, front page and The Chesley Enterprise, Chesley , Ontario, Thursday, September 12, 1907
LOSES LIFE ON "LIGHTNING LIFT"
ALEX. S. WATT, FAMED SCOTCH PIPER, KILLED IN FORD BUILDING.
Was Going Up Elevator Shaft When Car Jumped Guards, Slides and Dropped Its Rider
Hurled from the fourth floor of the new Ford building to the bottom of the elevator shaft and there crushed between two barrels of concrete with which he was riding to the top of the structure when the elevator jumped its guard slides and tipped over at 1 o'clock this afternoon. Alex. S. Watt, of 17 Fairview avenue, foreman for the National Tiling Co., sustained injuries from which he died in St. Mary's hospital within ten minutes after the accident occurred.
The elevator was not more heavily loaded than usual, the men who were working near the shaft say, when it tipped over. It was the one known to the workers as the "lightning lift" because of the speed it attained in carrying material to the top of the building. No explanation is offered as to why it should have jumped the guard rails. That it left them with considerable force is shown by the fact that the slides on both sides of the shaft were shattered.
As the elevator jumped the grooves, it tipped slantingly, and then fell to the bottom of the shaft. Watt was not thrown from it when it tipped and went the entire four stories down on it. His despair cry as the elevator broke and started for the ground chilled the blood in the veins of the workers near the shaft. They rushed over to it just in time to see the wrecked elevator strike the bottom and its concrete freight pin Watt against the side of the shaft.
When they extricated him from the wreckage he was unconscious and his head was all crushed in about the left temple.
His fellow workmen carried him out to the roadway that runs to the main floor of the building and there laid him down on some sacks. One ran for water and stimulants , while others fanned him with handkerchiefs, coats, and sacks, and others sponged his face. It was easily seen that his injuries were fatal.
Patrolman Edwards, a lifelong friend of the injuried man, called the Detroit ambulance. It arrived about five minutes after the accident . Just as it dashed up to St. Mary's hospital, Watt breathed his last.
Watt was well known among the builders in this city and had a host of friends among the workmen employed in various constructing companies. He was also one of the most enthusiastic members of the St. Andrew's Society. At the recent picnic of that organization at Bois Blanc he took first place for his appearance in Highland costume and his skill in playing the bagpipes.
Detroit News, Detroit, Michigan, Monday, September 9, 1907, page 4, column 8
FUNERAL OF ALEX. WATT
St. Andrew's piper, Killed at Ford Building, Is Buried Today
The Funeral of Alexander S. Watt, Detroit's champion piper, who was killed last week by the fall of an elevator at the new Ford building, will take place this afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Watt home on Fairview avenue. The St. Andrew's Society, of which Watt was long a member, will have charge of the funeral, assisted by the members of the bricklayers' union, to which the dead man belonged.
At 1 o'clock the St.Andrew's men meet at their hall, 46 Grand River avenue and, headed by their pipers' band, go by car to the Watt house. Funeral services will be conducted by Rev. Edward H. Pende, of the Fort Street Presbyterian church, assisted by Rev. Dr. Urquhart, of Wyandotte, St. Andrew's chaplain.
Three selections will be sung during the services, "My Ain Countrie" by Mrs. Haysted and R. S. Rankin; "Thy Will Be Done," by Mrs. Haysted assisted by the St. Andrew's quartet, and "Weep Not," by the quartet, R. S. Rankin, Dr. G. S. Field, Wm. Duncan and Chas. Berry.
The pallbearers, six each from St. Andrew's society and the bricklayers union, are as follows: St. Andrew's - James Smith, David Dick, Robert Schram, James Maitland, Wm. Edward and Don McLeod; bricklayers - Gus Peters, Alex. Todd, Frank Weiby, Alex. Roberts, Geo. McMaster and E. Heiderman.
At Woodmere cemetery the service will be read by Dr. Urquhart and the pipers will play.
____________________________________
Detroit News, Detroit, Michigan, Friday, September 6, 1907, front page and The Chesley Enterprise, Chesley , Ontario, Thursday, September 12, 1907
LOSES LIFE ON "LIGHTNING LIFT"
ALEX. S. WATT, FAMED SCOTCH PIPER, KILLED IN FORD BUILDING.
Was Going Up Elevator Shaft When Car Jumped Guards, Slides and Dropped Its Rider
Hurled from the fourth floor of the new Ford building to the bottom of the elevator shaft and there crushed between two barrels of concrete with which he was riding to the top of the structure when the elevator jumped its guard slides and tipped over at 1 o'clock this afternoon. Alex. S. Watt, of 17 Fairview avenue, foreman for the National Tiling Co., sustained injuries from which he died in St. Mary's hospital within ten minutes after the accident occurred.
The elevator was not more heavily loaded than usual, the men who were working near the shaft say, when it tipped over. It was the one known to the workers as the "lightning lift" because of the speed it attained in carrying material to the top of the building. No explanation is offered as to why it should have jumped the guard rails. That it left them with considerable force is shown by the fact that the slides on both sides of the shaft were shattered.
As the elevator jumped the grooves, it tipped slantingly, and then fell to the bottom of the shaft. Watt was not thrown from it when it tipped and went the entire four stories down on it. His despair cry as the elevator broke and started for the ground chilled the blood in the veins of the workers near the shaft. They rushed over to it just in time to see the wrecked elevator strike the bottom and its concrete freight pin Watt against the side of the shaft.
When they extricated him from the wreckage he was unconscious and his head was all crushed in about the left temple.
His fellow workmen carried him out to the roadway that runs to the main floor of the building and there laid him down on some sacks. One ran for water and stimulants , while others fanned him with handkerchiefs, coats, and sacks, and others sponged his face. It was easily seen that his injuries were fatal.
Patrolman Edwards, a lifelong friend of the injuried man, called the Detroit ambulance. It arrived about five minutes after the accident . Just as it dashed up to St. Mary's hospital, Watt breathed his last.
Watt was well known among the builders in this city and had a host of friends among the workmen employed in various constructing companies. He was also one of the most enthusiastic members of the St. Andrew's Society. At the recent picnic of that organization at Bois Blanc he took first place for his appearance in Highland costume and his skill in playing the bagpipes.
FUNERAL OF ALEX. WATT
St. Andrew's piper, Killed at Ford Building, Is Buried Today
The Funeral of Alexander S. Watt, Detroit's champion piper, who was killed last week by the fall of an elevator at the new Ford building, will take place this afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Watt home on Fairview avenue. The St. Andrew's Society, of which Watt was long a member, will have charge of the funeral, assisted by the members of the bricklayers' union, to which the dead man belonged.
At 1 o'clock the St.Andrew's men meet at their hall, 46 Grand River avenue and, headed by their pipers' band, go by car to the Watt house. Funeral services will be conducted by Rev. Edward H. Pende, of the Fort Street Presbyterian church, assisted by Rev. Dr. Urquhart, of Wyandotte, St. Andrew's chaplain.
Three selections will be sung during the services, "My Ain Countrie" by Mrs. Haysted and R. S. Rankin; "Thy Will Be Done," by Mrs. Haysted assisted by the St. Andrew's quartet, and "Weep Not," by the quartet, R. S. Rankin, Dr. G. S. Field, Wm. Duncan and Chas. Berry.
The pallbearers, six each from St. Andrew's society and the bricklayers union, are as follows: St. Andrew's - James Smith, David Dick, Robert Schram, James Maitland, Wm. Edward and Don McLeod; bricklayers - Gus Peters, Alex. Todd, Frank Weiby, Alex. Roberts, Geo. McMaster and E. Heiderman.
At Woodmere cemetery the service will be read by Dr. Urquhart and the pipers will play.
____________________________________
Detroit News, Detroit, Michigan, Friday, September 6, 1907, front page and The Chesley Enterprise, Chesley , Ontario, Thursday, September 12, 1907
LOSES LIFE ON "LIGHTNING LIFT"
ALEX. S. WATT, FAMED SCOTCH PIPER, KILLED IN FORD BUILDING.
Was Going Up Elevator Shaft When Car Jumped Guards, Slides and Dropped Its Rider
Hurled from the fourth floor of the new Ford building to the bottom of the elevator shaft and there crushed between two barrels of concrete with which he was riding to the top of the structure when the elevator jumped its guard slides and tipped over at 1 o'clock this afternoon. Alex. S. Watt, of 17 Fairview avenue, foreman for the National Tiling Co., sustained injuries from which he died in St. Mary's hospital within ten minutes after the accident occurred.
The elevator was not more heavily loaded than usual, the men who were working near the shaft say, when it tipped over. It was the one known to the workers as the "lightning lift" because of the speed it attained in carrying material to the top of the building. No explanation is offered as to why it should have jumped the guard rails. That it left them with considerable force is shown by the fact that the slides on both sides of the shaft were shattered.
As the elevator jumped the grooves, it tipped slantingly, and then fell to the bottom of the shaft. Watt was not thrown from it when it tipped and went the entire four stories down on it. His despair cry as the elevator broke and started for the ground chilled the blood in the veins of the workers near the shaft. They rushed over to it just in time to see the wrecked elevator strike the bottom and its concrete freight pin Watt against the side of the shaft.
When they extricated him from the wreckage he was unconscious and his head was all crushed in about the left temple.
His fellow workmen carried him out to the roadway that runs to the main floor of the building and there laid him down on some sacks. One ran for water and stimulants , while others fanned him with handkerchiefs, coats, and sacks, and others sponged his face. It was easily seen that his injuries were fatal.
Patrolman Edwards, a lifelong friend of the injuried man, called the Detroit ambulance. It arrived about five minutes after the accident . Just as it dashed up to St. Mary's hospital, Watt breathed his last.
Watt was well known among the builders in this city and had a host of friends among the workmen employed in various constructing companies. He was also one of the most enthusiastic members of the St. Andrew's Society. At the recent picnic of that organization at Bois Blanc he took first place for his appearance in Highland costume and his skill in playing the bagpipes.
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