National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-10-12
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.
A HAN CUT IN PIECES BY A CIRCULA
SAW.

A HAN CUT IN PIECES BY A ClhOOLAh
SAW.
One Of those terrible accidents by which the
lives of human beings are cut of in an instant
occurred athe navy yard on Saturday About the
middle Of May last one of Knovlton's famous
circular saw mills was erected in the northwestern
corner Of the eastern shiP-house at the yard.
This mill is the first of its kind ever built having
one 6g-i-ich saw and enc overhead 36-inch saw.
The carriage upon which the timber is placed is
81 feet long, ana will carry the timber to the saw
its entire length.
thing in readiness for work, the inventor, Mr..
Joh0 l. KnOwlton, recommended Mr. Edward L.
SyPier, then OF Bordentown, N. J., as . comPe-
tent man TO run the mill, and the Navy Depart
ment placed him in charge, which he retained
until he met his death, which occurred In the
my sT.1 manner q LAP spout ~ p MI On
and the Workmen were engaged in saving out
planking for the new Nipsic, when Mr.. Sypler
noticed that the saw was not running exactly
straight, and took hammer and punch to adjust
the guide. He placed the point Of the punch on
the shoulder of the guide the knuekes OF his LETT
at the rate of about seven hundred revolutions
per minute, and his left foot resting the frame
with the hammer After hitting the punch
blow or two the point Of it slipped
and the unfortunate man lost his balance and
fell on the saw, which in a tWinkling made
a hOrrid, lacerated wound, extending in the me-
dium line of the head completely through the
skull, brain and its membrane as far as its base,
gaia, but abscising entirely both cerebral hem
ispheres intact. By this rude process was effected
in one second or less dissection requiring twenty
minutes with the knife of the surgeon. The
right arm was wrenched from its attachments
somewhat diagonally, the lacerated line of sepa-
ration extending from the insertion of the bone
in its socket above obliquely downward to two
Inches above the elbow Joint behind, the upper
fragments Of soft tissue quivering for four min
utes after the accident. The left wrist, hand and
fingers were completely mummified, and hung
dangling like mass OF eandied Jelly. The poor,
tran all Hro1a hvnV,a snVafN
stricken out of it at one Blow gasped rather than
breathed for fifteen minutes.
1t is almost impossible to describe the state of
CONSERVATION into which this fearful accident
threw the wOTkmen in the mill and those outside
when the news spread. Strong men turned pale;
some wept, and those who had the hardihOOd to
look on the mangled remains will never forget
their CHASTITY appearance. Some who had been
through the war declared they had never seen
such sight. When those around the ship house
had recovered from the shock Mr.. Ayers was
prevailed on to perform the unpleasant duty Of
loss. In a few minutes she arrived in the yard,
but the officers persuaded her not to look at the
body until it was washed and dressed.
In the meantime Coroner Patterson was notified.
He arrived at the yard little after O'Clock, but
upon viewing the remains and hearing the state
ments of those who were present at the time Of
the occurrence, decided that an inquest was IN
necessary, and gave the usual burial certificate.
The body was then placed on a stretcher and the
American flag wrapped around and conveyed in
the yard ambulance TO the undertaking establish
ment of Mr.. BOetler, on Eighth street southeast,
where it was washed and dressed, after which it
was taken to his late residence, at the corner of
Tenth and M streets southeast, where it now lies
awaiting the arrival Of his brother Philip from
BOrdentOWn, n. J., and his brother John from
Easton, Pa, they having been telegraphed for.
The deceased was born in Trenton, N. J., on the
18th OF August, 1910, and served his apprentice
ship as a sawyer with his father in that city.
About two years ago he moved to Bordentown,
which place he left on the 18th Of May last On
the 18th of December, 1858, he married Miss Han
nah Compton, by whom he had three children,
one girl seven years and two boys, four years and
twenty months respectively, who are living, and
came to this city with their mother about two
months ago. His mother Is alive, and resides In
MOrTisville, n. J.. Mr.. Sypler had the reputa-
ton OF being quiet, steady, straightforward
man, who always attended TO HIS wOTk-a good,
indulgent husband and father, and q fast friend
to those he liked. His widow is almost a stranger
among US, and it is to be hoped that those who
can do so will give her and her little children
something more than sympathy before she leaves
with the mangled remains Of her husband for her
home in New Jersey.