Christian-F_-Grothe-84343

Obituary

At four o'clock Thursday afternoon Christ Grothe, contractor for the erection of the new Burlington Hospital building, fell from a scaffold and was instantly killed. Mr. Grothe stood upon a scaffodl on a level with the third, or upper veranda, on the south side of the building. This scaffolding, having served its purpose, was about to be removed and in fact was in process of removal. Mr. Grothe apparently lost his balance, but of this no one can say with certainty, as attention was first attracted to him by his cry as he fell headlong. In the descent he clutched at the unfinished railing on the veranda next below, but this failed to sustain him or break his fall, for it gave way from its fastenings. it did, however, change the direction of his fall, throwing him to the westward, where he struck upon his neck or head upon the projecting beams of the scaffold on a level with the first veranda. From this he was thrown off to the eastward and to the ground, which here falls away so that the length of his fall was not less than thirty feet in a direct line. He struck upon his head and blood gushed from his ears, nose and mouth. His so Henry and the other workmen ran to him, but he was apparently dead when they lifted him up and carried him into the basement. He never spoke or gave any sign of life, and the doctors who arrived soon after said he was dead. Coroner Unterkircher was then notified and removed the remains to his undertaking room. The deceased was a man fifty-two years of age; he leaves a widow and three children, namely Henry, John and Clara. His home was on North Oak street, and he was a builder of good reputation, having within a few years erected several large buildings. He was formerly employed as car-builder at the West Burlington shops. He was highly respected as a workman and a man, and his family has the sincere sympathy of many friends.