HIGHAC,RES COLLEGIAN.
It was Wednesday afternoon, April 23, 195 8 . The HIGHACRES CAMPUS wr , s
deserted except for three afternoon lab sessions. On the campus lawn
two rabbits were scampering around. Spring was really in the air. Thk
construction work on the new Student Union building had stopped for tut
day. And, except for one man, the location was a scene of tranquility.
I finished my chem lab experiment early and decided to spend a few
minutes looking over the progress of the work crew. Within several
minutes three other students joined me.
The work man was charging pre-drilled holes with dynamite. This was
being done not more than five feet away from the position where we were
standing. One of the students remarked that it was extremely dangerouo
to tamp the charges with a stick as was being done. The others laughed
and termed it nonsense.
The workman finished his work near us. Then he seemingly remembered
one more hole which was located approximately twenty—five feat from
where we were standing. It was the last hole to be charged before
detonation. The four of us watched him intently as he completed his
fascinating task. It was now approximately 4:25 PM. He placed a half—
stick of dynamite in the hole. On top of this he placed a whole stick
containing the detonating cap. He pushed this to the bottom of the
hole with the wooden stick he held in his hand. Then, after placing
some soil in the hole, he leaned over it and tamped. it.....0nce.....
twice. There was a resounding explosion resembling thunder overhesd.
A conical blnst of smoke and dirt came flying from the hole. The
stick he held in his hand seemed to disappear.
Before I fully realized what had happened, Angelo Lorenzoni, one of the
on—looking students made a dash for the main building to summon an
ambulance. The stricken man was bending over the hole with his hands
covering his face. Then we heard him moan as the three of us remainin
on the scene dashed simultaneously toward him.
As we reached him he recovered some of his senses and started stumbli,
toward the road. I could see a trail of blood, but I did not yet kmu
the extent of his injuries. He stumbled and leaned on a rock at the
edge of the road. Then he turned over on his back and we could see hiE
injuries. His neck was torn and full of fragments from the blast.
Powder covered his entire head and, to our shock, his chin was almost
completely amputated. He started rolling in the dead leaves, losing
great quantities of blood. We turned him on his back and told him to
remain that way, thus retarding the flow of blood. It calted him a
bit to discover that an ambulance was on the way.
EY Et ITNE
ACCIDENT
ORT 0.1
STANLEY •M. ZDEP
MMIK!