RANDOLPH, Richard: Died 1965

RANDOLPH

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 9/28/2017 at 14:28:30

**Handwritten: Rec-Rep. 27 May 1965

Richard Randolph, of Milton, Was Killed In Construction Accident Near Bladensburg Thursday

An accident at a Wapello County bridge project site northeast of Bladensburg last Thursday morning took the life of a construction worker, Richard Randolph, 22, of Milton.

According to the Wapello County Sheriff, Randolph was killed instantly by a hollow steel piling which slipped from a pile driver.

The mishap occurred about 8:30 a.m., a mile and half northeast of Bladensburg at the Cedar Creek crossing.

As described by Deputy Blaine Box who assembled details the piling, about 50 feet long and weighing about 1,600 pounds, had been lifted by the driver and was i. position to be driven into the ground.

Randolph was holding one end of a rope tied to the lower end of the big shaft and had guided it into place. For some unexplained reason, the piling slipped from the guides of the machine, then gyrating wildly, fell to the ground.

Randolph was standing just a few feet in front of the crane used to support the pile driver. As the pile struck the ground, it leaped forward, striking him. The impact hurled him into a wooden step on the cab of the machine. He died from a crushing blow to the head, not from being crushed under the fallen bridge support member.

The project is under contract by Wapello County to the Amos Wellberg contracting firm of Cedar Rapids. On hand when the accident happened were two county road employees, inspecting the work.

The job is one of routine replacement, the bridge having been in bad repair for some time. The piling which struck Randolph was the first lifted in place for driving.

Commenting on the accident, Deputy Box, familiar with such construction work, said on the rare occasions pilings get loose from the machine, and it is impossible to predict where they will go.

He said it appeared to him that Randolph was standing in a location where, when the steel tube fell, he could not escape.

Assisting Sheriff Russell Waters in the investigation was Dr. Lloyd Gagle, acting for the county medical examiner, Dr. Warren DeKraay.

Randolph's immediate family, in addition to his wife, includes two young sons, Garry and Kip.

Funeral services were held on Sunday, May 23 at the Mt. Sterling Methodist Church with Rev. Richard Eis officiating. Services were in charge of Catcott Funeral Home of Keosauqua. Interment was in Harness Cemetery, Mt. Sterling.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book J, Page 69, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA