The Pinkerton Construction Company of Philadelphia, given the contract to build the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad, decided to hire mostly foreign laborers instead of local labor. The workers, many of whom were Italian nationals, were brought in from Philadelphia and housed in work camps at and near the construction sites. In June 1911, a serious accident took place in which three of these laborers were injured in an explosion, possibly a result of a miscommunication as to when a dynamite blast was to be set off. Efforts to find out what happened to the three men after they were treated in the hospital have thus far proved fruitless. It is not even certain their names are spelled correctly in the news articles.
From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, 23 June 1911:
PREMATURE BLAST INJURES 3 MEN
Burned While Working On Railroad Up-County
Three foreign laborers had a narrow escape from death in a premature explosion near Millersburg yesterday afternoon where the cross county railroad is being built. The injured are:
Amadia DiGimmarino, age 24 years, severe burns and lacerations of face and hands.
Emido Picchino, aged 18 years, burns of hands, face and eyes.
Lugi Cosavesselo, aged 17 years, burns of hands, face and eyes.
The accident occurred yesterday afternoon at 3 o’clock where the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad Company is constructing a forty-three mile railroad line across the county. The injured men are employed by the Pinkerton Construction Company, who are in charge of the improvements. News of the accident reached the Harrisburg Hospital yesterday afternoon and it was reported three men badly injured would arrive on the 3:20 o’clock train. It was just 6 o’clock when the injured men arrived in this city and immediately they were removed to the hospital. The cause of the delay is unknown.
Just how the accident occurred is unknown. Neither of the three men are able to speak intelligently English and attempts to get some information from them proved impossible. All that is known is that they were at work when the blasting was going on. Upon their arrival at the hospital their injuries were treated and they were dispatched to wards. Their faces and eyes are the worst injured. Heroic efforts are being made to save the vision.
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Another article appeared in the Harrisburg Telegraph, 23 June 1911:
Three at Hospital Hurt by Blast
Italian laborers Injured in Explosion on Pennsylvania Railroad at Midland
Three Italian laborers were brought to the Harrisburg hospital last evening suffering from injuries about the head and arms caused by the unexpected explsion of a blast along the Pennsylvania Railroad at Midland, where they were working. The injured are Luigi Cosaveccio, Emido Piccina and Amadio deGiammiarina.
The men were cleaning out a blast that had failed to explode then the drill struck the cap and the explosion followed. The condition of the victims is fair.
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Articles are from Newspapers.com.
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