Lieutenant Frank A. Starkel

“The place where[ officer Starkel]parked was the one from which[he] had watched blasting operations for many years. While [he was] seated in the automobile, shortly before the blast occurred, the general superintendent of the quarry came along in his car. After stopping, he said to [Starkel], "You are not going to sit here, are you?" To this the decedent replied, "You take care of your business and I'll take care of mine." The superintendent then left and drove entirely off the premises. At 12:59 p.m. the decedent got out of the automobile to answer a call of nature. Within a minute, the charge in the new hole was fired, causing the dynamite in the misfired hole also to explode. The result was that an umbrella of stone, of varying sizes and weights, was rifled out over the quarry floor and beyond. The decedent was then standing with his back to the explosion. While in that position he was struck by a flying stone. He was taken to the hospital and died on the same day as the result of his injuries.” He died a hero.

frederick crowe

January 19, 2022