The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-09-14


DsEADrUL ACCIDENT. On the 9th inst Mr..
Isaac Belknap, principal machnist in the Geor.
gIa Factory. Smith6eld, was engaged in adjust
ing some machinery near tho regulator, un.
known to a lad, who at the same time entered
the dark passage between the two water wheels
IN order TO oil the gudgeons For this purpose
tho lad had raised trap door, over the iron
gcering, and was just about shutting it, when
MIR. BeIknap, having finished what he was do.
ting, stepped from an elevated platform, direct.
~ upon the spot, whore he had before passed
over the gccring, on the trap door. The lad
seized and attempted to sustain him, but With
out effect. His boot caught in the bevel geer.
ing, ian upright and horizontal cog wheel, run
ming into each other,) and tho leg Of the unfor.
tunate man was Immediately crushed. and
drawn in by the machinery, up TO his body. bv
which the main wheel was STONED In his
oxcrucating and hopeless situation the self
possession OF Mr.. Belknap was wonderful. He
was more collected than any one of those the
accident had summoned to his hopeless relief
fiis expression was that he was a dead man.
out he wished them TO keep it from his family
or That they might not be too suddenly inform
ed OF It, He then proceeded 10 give directions
now the geering should be separated, in order
10 detach him from it, for which purpose he told
them they must break The coupling box, that
unltes the two shafts. This was done, proving
TO have been the most expeditions and least IN
furious mode of disengaging the geerng. lip
to this moment, period of ton or fifteen min
utes. MIR. Belknap retained his self-possession,
but the moment the wheels were loosed from
his mangled limb, the blood gushed forth, the
unfortunate man uttered scream of agony and
expired.
The deceased was 81 years Of age, worthy
and valuable citizen, OF excellent character,
and highly esteemed by his employers in whose
service he has been for four years to more than
their entire satisfaction. He has left wife
and child, and numerous relatives to lament his
untimely end.-PrOuidtnce American.
AMERICAN SILK. We had the pleasure
a few days since of examining fine speci-
men of American sewing silk from Mans
field, Conn. The gentleman who exhibited
it has upwards of 10000 skenS. for which
he finds ready sale at about $3.50 per ID.
He informs us that about fve tons have been
raised in Mansfield alone this season, and
the culture is rapidly extending in Coventry
and other neighboring towns. One gen.
tleman in Connecticut last year paid $4,000
for white mulberry trees, with which he
has set out an orchard of one hundred acres.
About 1000 bushels of cocoons were sent
to Philadelphia last season, and were sold
for 3 dollars per bushel. Competent for
eigners are now setting up machinery in
Mansfield for spinning and weaving the raw
article, which has made great demand for
cocoons, and given spur to the business.
BY means of machinery introduced year
or two since, the value of the raw silk has
been EXCHANGED 81 per lb. The business
is managed almost exclusively by females,
requiring very particular attention for only
about two weeks each year. The sales Of
sewing silk in Mansfield alone this year are
estimated at upwards of SS5,000.
.Nsw England Farmer.