The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1867-05-09
DREADFUL ACCIDENT.
A Young Man Drawn Under q Grind.
Stone---A Portion OF his Body
Ground to Pulp.
lRrom the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser

lHrom the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser.
I. There recently happened at the manu-
| factory Of Messrs. Parmelee & Co. on
the corner Of Sixth and Georgia streets a
most remarkable and deplorable accident.
We never heard or even read of so curl
Gus one; and more horrible story than
| the particulars of the case furnish can
scarcely be conceived.
| In the basement of Messrs Parmelee
q Co. IS establishment are located several
huge grindstones, which are turned by
steam. These monster stones (about
seven feet diameter) revolve with great
rapidity. They are used chiefly for the
grinding of knife blades, which are held
against the stone by hand In order
that this may be etfectually done, the
man sits Immediately over the stone, on
a wooden seat, technically termed
horse
About third of the stone revolves in
trough of water, which trough is letin
to the ground. About four inches space
is left on each side between the trough
and the stone.
Now, just prior to this accident, a
young man named George Gilman was
seated over one of these huge stones,
which was revolving with fearful veloci-
ty,engaged in grinding some knife blades
For some cause or other, he had occasion
to step off his seat. In doing so his foot
/ slipped upon the damp, clayey ground,
and slid into the trough in which the
stone was revolving. No sooner was one
leg in than the fearful wiliriing OF the
stone drew, as into vortex. the whole
body Of the unfortunate man, gradually
squeezing him iaterally and perpeniicu
iarly till it had ground and wedged him
into the trough beneath; and there ike
a malicious thing, revolved over, damned
| and smashed his poor body, as with tiend
ish malignity. 1t was not till this had all
been accomplished, that his crier of hor-
ror and agony brought his fellow work
men around him.
On realizing the dreadful situation, the
men, under the direction of Mr.. Arthur
Parmelee and the foreman, went to work
with will to liberate their unfortunate
| co,,frere But it was now found that hu-
man hands, unaided were insufficient to
raise one inch of the huge stone which
though Though the belt had been thrown
| off still continued, with decreasing speed
to revolve upon the body of the unfortu-
nate sufferer With almost superhuman
dispatch, a hole was made through the
door above, and chain suspended
through pulley lowered down and at
tached to the stone. But here release
from the fearful position seemed, if pos
sible, worse than staying beneath the
! stone; for the least movement Of the
stone caused the man the most excrucia-
ting agony, while the danger of its slip.
ping back and crushing him in still
more dreadful manner.added greatly to
the peril and horror of the work. How
ever, by the exercise of great skill anc
care, the stone was at last raised ano
Gilman liberated from his worse than In
quisitorial rack; indeed, it was a living
tomb. But if horror was excited at be
holding him beneath the stone, that feel
ing was immensely increased when hi
poor mangled, lacerated body was expos
ed to view: "Oh, the pity of it" th'
back was a r.ass of gritty pulp; one arm
was torn co shreds, the muscles being lit
orally pulled out by the roots. Ever.
time the fearful stone revolved upon thu
writhing aesh it filed it with grit an(
dirt, while the greater part of the cloth
ing was stripped off. The poor youn,
man was tenderly conveyed home, where
Dr. Conger attended him. We are hap
by to say that he yet lives, and though
recovery seems almost miracle, his lit'
is not yet despaired Of He bears his
martyrdom like hero.