Angelo Corsino, a Chelsea water department
worker, died when the bottom of a ditch in which he was repairing a
leak in a water pipe broke through and opened up a fissure in the earth.
On May 1, 1948 excavation work was being done on Second Street by
members of the Chelsea water department in an effort to repair a
water leak. Suddenly the ground gave way and Angelo Corsino
disappeared. He was seen to fall 30 feet into and underground void by
Joseph Welch, a co-worker who was about to jump into the ditch but
was prevented by another worker. Detective Abraham Burgin heard the
cries of the men from where he was standing at Second and Chestnut
Streets and ran to the hole. He flashed a light and could see 30 feet
down but in a few seconds the hole filled up with falling dirt and
sand. Corsino had disappeared deep into the hole and was nowhere to
be found.
Work began immediately to try to locate and recover the body. The
city of Chelsea appropriated $25,000 to search for the body, but the
MDC took over when leaks were found in the nine-foot sewer, which
passes through the ground, 27 feet below Second Street. The state
sent an additional $100,000.00. For over two months digging
operations continued. Workmen were constantly hampered by quicksand,
mud and landslides. Wooden sheathing was driven into the ground to
prevent further cave-ins. Well points were sunk to dry out the
quicksand so the men could break through the side of the sheathing
facing Chestnut Street. Evidence was finally obtained that the body
might be close to the sewer at the spring line about 32 feet down and
several test holes were made. Pumps continued day and night in an
effort to keep back the water
The body was finally located on Friday July 9, 1948 after 68 days of
searching. The body was lying on its side with the head close to the
sheathing. A rope was placed around the body in the event another
slide occurred. Hampered by the tide forcing back the ground water,
operations were stopped during high tides. On Saturday July 10, the
opening in the sheathing was made larger and the men worked under
difficult conditions clearing the clay and sand from around his body
so he could be pulled free. His body was in a fair state of
preservation and was taken out intact, 69 days after the accident.
Dr. William C. Brickley, medical examiner for this district, was
present throughout the day and took charge of the body. He announced
that the death was accidental and was caused by multiple injuries,
crushed chest and abdomen and a fractured spine. The medical examiner
said the death of the local water department worker and the
subsequent search for his body was one of the most unusual in his ten
years experience.
Angelo Corsino was a WW2 veteran and served in the army from October
22, 1942 to May 10, 1943, when he received a medical discharge. He
was married to the former Marie Ferrante of Somerville and made his
home on Tremont Street. He left behind his mother and father,
Alexander and Clara Corsino; three brothers, Samuel, Louis and John
of Chelsea; three sisters, Mrs. Nellie Skrudges of Lynn, Mrs. Grace
Colontonio and Mrs. Julia Luggerio of Chelsea. He was burried in Holy
Cross Cemetary in Malden.