The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-05-27
SACO AND BIDDEFORD.
MONDAY, Nav 26

MONDAY, May rs.
A Serious accident at Bragdon's Ledge.
Two men Geo. Littlefield and Eli Aver
were terribly mangled by premature ex-
plosion at Bragdon's ledge on Granite
street, Biddeford, at about $50 this after
noon. They had drilled their stone, charg-
ed it with powder and made an unsuccess-
full attempt to fire it. They Ethen tried to
spoon out the charge in order to fill and try
again. Not being able to spoon it out they
began drilling. They had been drilling but
very few seconds when the blast ignited.
Mr.. Ayers left arm was so mangled that
DR.. W arren found it necessary to amputate
it just below the elbow; his face and other
uncovered parts of his body were blown full
of powder. The doctors think he will live
Mr.. Littlefeld's hands and arms half way
to the elbow are both blown off. His chin
is torn, his nose, eyes and forehead so
mangled that they can hardly be recognized
as human features. DR.. Hill of Biddeford
was called and was doing all that could be
done to alleviate his sufferings when we
came away at 5 o. clock. There is very lit
tie hope that he will live through the night.
Mr.. Littlefeld is between thirty-five and
forty years of age, is single and boards at
No. Laconia corporation, Biddeford. He
has been foreman on the ledge several
years. Mr.. Aver is also ayoung man about
the same age, has family and lives over
j. b. Palmcr's grocery store at. Kings Cor
ner, Biddeford.
Mr.. Thomas Bickford, who lives on the
corner of Pike and Cross streets, Biddeford,
an aged man, fell down the stairs leading
from the front to the back shop in Mr..
Gardner Libby's paint store on Main street,
Biddeford, this afternoon. He struck upon
his head, producing slight conclusion of
the brain and sprained his wrist and hand
badly.
Mr.. Frank Fields, for practice. has walk
ed and ran twice to Portland and return to-
day. He started at O'Clock this morning,
was 2h. 3m going in; rested there 20 min
utes, and returned in q hours; rested out
mere IN. Bonn. back to Portland in 2.45
rested in Portland III. 15m.; returned in
Oh. Som.
The alarm of fire at $50 p. m. yesterday
was occasioned by the burning out of a
chimney in the dwelling house of DR.. Jere
Mason, Main street, Saco.
At about two O'Clock this morning two
story single tenement house and shed at
tached, occupied and owned by Mrs. Mary
Lane, on the corner of Foss and Fall streets
were almost entirely destroyed by fire. The
furnitureswas nearly all saved Insured in
Imperial and Northern with F. j. Goodwin
house $3.50; furniture 1925; shed $75.
Undoubtedly the work of an incendiary, as
the lire was found to have started in sepa-
rate corners of the house and shed. A pile
of shavings satuated with kerosene oil and
bottle that had contained kerosene oil
was found under one corner of the house
this morning.
Mr.. j. R. Ripley while backing his horse
land carriage out of the yard at his residence
Icorner of High and Birch streets, Saco. to-
Dday, cramped the wheel under the carriage
by which he was thrown to the ground, and
severely injured. He attempted after lit
tie while to walk down town, but was oblig
ed to return to his home.