The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-06-17
From Bloomington Qll,) Photograph, June 1, 1877
DEATH BY THE REAPER

DhA i II DE 1 hG hGhE LIN
EDITOR PANTAGRAPH II is said that Coming
events cast their shadows before" and my object
In this letter is to set forth to discuss and finally
offer some suggestions for the prevention ofa class
ofaccidentS that take place yearly, and the season
isnow approaching when they will again occur
throughout the length and breadth of this land
class of so.called accidents, horrible in their
effects but of which little is known to the mass of
our people and which are overlooked although
no less distressing for the disasters of our railroads
and shipping. lspeak of the fatality following
the moving and reaping machines, and which is
called to my mind from notice of series Of &C.
cidents in Iowa | read from Moore's Rural Nep
Yorker an agricultural paper OF May 3d. now be.
fore me-
zone John Hawkeye, Of Tama county, Iowa. re-
even their wiveswere horribly mangled and killed
while operating reapers"
How awful How horrible! In the full vigor
of manhood, perhaps family relying on him for
support, suddenly, and dwithoutwaming, manned
for life" How many Of the farmers of this land
call together similar occurrences They come
crowding upon me, and would feign forget. You
may call me philanthropist, perhaps croaker,
and no doubt shall be so considered by the
manufacturers of reapers Fer be it from me to
disparage the labor.saving machines of this coun.
try Their merits are all told and they give to us
wealth, and ease the severe and exhausting labor
of the husbandman, and are monuments of the
skill and genius of my cOuntrymen; but if these
few simple words and facts may be the means of
lessening the unhappy results attending their use,
by urging upon the operators greater caution, or
upon their makers ideas of different construction,
they are not in vain. IAN ounce Of prevention is
worth pound of cure" are old and true sayings !;
then why not prevent, if ingenuity can suggest
the way, the fatal results following the use of
these machines
All the demands of success and efficiency seem
at present combined IN their construction, except
that of safety, which exists only in few Why
not this In all Rather would be thrown upon
the ragged edge of despair than the ragged
edge fthe deadly sickle"
Look around, Mr.. Editor, this great country.
even In our own country and see the men and
boys yes, and even girls with scars and often the
lOho VI uubCl VI tllhhlbt SuuoSN w AhllC "a
the reaper.
When read in circulars that boy and girl can
cut so many acres day with these machines,
tremble with apprehension. Well do l recollect
all occurrence that took place in my own neigh
borhood. A lovely girl hardly IA years Of age,
desirOus of helping her father (he being short of
help on the farm was driving and operating a
reaping machine. The surface ofthe ground was
quite irregular, and the position o. the cutting
part of the machine required that she should al.
most constantly even while directing the horses
keep her eyes to the rear to see that 1t made or
deivred the proper amount Of grain for bundle
which was regulated by the foot. The bar strik-
ing an obstruction suddenly, caused the main
portion of the machine to double in or tip in-so
to speak-towards the bar She was thrown Off
and forward of the knife.
The horses, feeling the sudden tightening and
then loosenipg Of the lines, started quickly, the
knife caught her, and in the space of a moment
she was torn to pieces Her appearance after the
horses were stopped was too sickening for descrip
ton. Her mangled body was carried to her grier
stricken mother, For brief hour she fingered
and then life went out,
noble boy vergng on to manhood, the pride
and solsce Of his parents was operating ma
chine In this county; the lines falling from his
hands, caught on some portion Of the machine
back Of the seat. In leaning over to disengago
them, he was struck by one of the rakes knocking
him of and iu front of the bar One of the guards
caught In his head, and he was dragged some dis
lance. When taken up 1t was found that the
ord hoH tnd 10 tla hro ofn Ia
But why go ou2 II is the "Old, old story" Some
ofmy readers may say abolish them. No They
are the most useful machine the farmer has
without them we should be poor indeed let us
rather look to perfection" In conversation with
an old and successful farmer a man of brains,
and a natural mechanic learn ofvarious causes.
and the cure and am led to the beliefthat he is
correct He says in regard to the causes The
uncertainty or irregularity Of the surface of the
ground, such as sloughs-a deep and abrupt fur
row,-fractious horses, distractions such as
stumps, stones brush, all may be the means of
causing the drivers to be thrown from their seats
and he adds that during his long experience he
has come to the decided opinion "hdt the cutting
dppar hS If placed in front Of he drivers seat, p,
ebectuaNypreuent all accidents from happening to The
drirer Il HrOiDn from tie scat" The driver can
then have his eyes for his horses as well as his
work, and his position is comfortable Again, the
rakes cannot strike him.
This seems SO reasonable that cannot doubt,
and II so, may this article be the means of show.
ing the Importance when buying machines to Sc
lecl only those so constructed that the buyer may
be spared such narrowing scenes as related.
Select those machines that have the cutter bar
in front ofthe driver. Reerringto the newspaper
notice spoke of in the beginning of this letter
find it was machine with the bar back of the
driver
The remedy then is simple, and can he adopted
by all manufacturers. Ifthey willnot do 1t, what
then2 steamers and mills that use boilers or
other dangerous contrivanees are governed by
law Railroads are liable to certain restrictions
for the safety oftheir patrons.
Perhaps we cannot govern by law the manu-.
facurers ofreapers but we can refuse to buy their
rear cut machines and cut of their hqrvet of pros.
periy rather than ALLOW them 10 reap their hayrea of
death.
According to the strict meaning Of words, every
occurrence which happens out Of proper Sc
quence, and the relations Of which frite IudR.