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Lazo Jaich (1919)

JAICH

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 1/2/2009 at 11:42:26

Earlham Library Collection
Earlham Echo

STEAM SHOVEL CRUSHES OUT LIFE

He Was Only an Austrian Laborer, But America Was His Country. Military Burial Accorded Victim of Quarry Accident.

Lazo Jaich, a young Austrian laborer employed on the rock job at the Cement Quarry, met death in an unusually cruel form Saturday forenoon about 10 o’clock when the ponderous shovel member of the steam shovel, weighing itself over three tons fell upon him, striking him just below the knee and completely severing the limb. Almost all flesh was also stripped from the bone, and the unfortunate young man literally bled to death, none of his companions having the presence of mind to apply compression above the wound in an effort to stop the blood gushing from the severed artery. Dr. Irvin was summoned as quickly as possible, but it was necessary to walk a half a mile to the nearest phone at the Sandusky house, and there difficulty was met in making a connection. By the time the doctor arrived the victim of the accident was doomed in spite of his powerful constitution, there being hardly any blood left in his body. A quantity of salt solution was injected into his veins and he was brought to town and thence taken to the hospital at Stuart on the one o’clock train, but he never regained consciousness, and died late in the afternoon. The neglect in providing first aid treatment undoubtedly cost him his life.

The shovel was in the process of being moved back to a new position when the accident occurred, and Jaich was one of the three men carrying a tie under the high hanging shovel. Usually the men take no chances and carry these ties by the end, and it was Jaich’s carelessness in walking at the middle of the tie that proved fatal. The shovel slipped downward suddenly, the brake mechanism letting go its hold for some reason and permitting the heavy bucket to crash to the rock surface below. The two other men got clear in time, but Jaich was caught as he sprang backward. The engineer of the shovel, Carson Morey, was off the machine at the time, that being the custom of both engineer and cranesman when a new set is being made. He was greatly affected by the accident and has resigned his position with the company, although no blame attaches to him, consequent of the failure of the friction band on the elevating drum to hold.

Jaich was an unusually good representative of the foreign laborer on the local work. He had taken out his first naturalization papers, had a fairly good command of the English language, and was a quiet, well-mannered young man, who has made many friends among the business men of Earlham in addition to companions of his own nationality. He was taken by the draft over a year ago, and served nearly a year in the army of his adopted country without crossing the ocean. He had no relatives here, and his nearest of kin in this country was a cousin, who attended the funeral.

The body was brought from Stuart by automobile Monday afternoon, six local soldiers acting as pall-bearers, namely, Fred Eisele, John Moreland, Bert Tharp, Chas. Mleynek, Albert Sole and Rolland Fry. As the procession approached the outskirts of town it was met by the Earlham band who accompanied it to the Park. The services were conducted by a priest of the orthodox Greek Catholic Church from Omaha, Rev. Milsevevich. The ritual was given in a foreign tongue, supposedly Greek, which seemed to be intelligible to the Austrian quarry workers, fifty of whom were present and passed before the casket. A number of Americans, also were present in addition to the band, which gave a sacred selection, and the Austrians evidently appreciated the interest taken by local people, as indicated by the word of thanks expressed by Mike Radich at the conclusion of the service. Interment was made in the Earlham cemetery after a short ceremony at the grave.

Gravestone Photo
 

Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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