Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1884-04-29
TorribIv MangIed.

Engineer Charles FIetcher's Sad Fate
Caught BY n SHAFT While Oiling
Maehfnery-HIs Death Last Evening
At the Hospital.
Yesterday afternoon at about four O'Clock
Engineer Charles Fletcher, at Mr.. Forsyth's
Elm City Dye works on State street Fear
Neck bridge, mounted q ladder to oil some
machinery in one of the workrooms Of the
establishment. He had reached the top of
the ladder when it slipped and he fell heavily
against revolving shaft. His clothing was
caught in projecting screw on the shaft,
and he was carried around and around ON the
shaft At each revolution some part of him
struck against heavy beam overhead, and
his situation was dreadful to behold. There
were several persons at work in the room, in
Guiding two or three women. A young man
named Fitzpatrick rushed to the engine room
(about one hundred feet distant), and in his
excitement let on more steam, thereby caus-
| ing the machinery to revolve faster. Two
other men rushed to the engine, and one
stopped it. All this happened inside of two
minutes. When the works stopped the I'M
fortunate man dropped from the shafting.
Nearly every vestige of clothing was by that
| time torn from him. He was still cons
| scious. One of the men telephoned for
| DR.. A. E. Winchell, who was In his
Office and responded at once. Arriving on
| the scene he made an examination of the ter
| ribly mangled man and found that both legs
| were badly crushed below the knee and that
| probably one would have to be amputated.
| Fletcher had also terrible bruises about the
| breast and head and blood was spattered
along on the beam overhead. DR.. Winchell
| telephoned for an ambulance and meanwhile
everything was done that was possible for the
| unfortunate man. A wagon with stretcher
| was sent from the police station. and on its
arrival DR.. Winchell sent it back, not find
/ ing it suitable for the purpose, and
sent word for the ambulance. Detective
Reilly, by direction of Captain Hyde at the
police station, repaired at once to the town
| agents Office and Clerk Geary telephoned to
| the almshouse for the ambulance, which was
| sent with all speed to the dye works. The
| unfortunate man was enveloped in blankets
/ and placed in it and removed to the hospital.
| Meanwhile Mr.. Forsyth, who was up town at
| his central Office, was telephoned to and re.
| paired to the sad scene. Mr.. Forsyth when
| informed, WAS almost overcome at
| the intelligence of Fletcher's sad
| accident.
| At the hospital it was found that he had
| received severe cuts and terrible Commissions
1 about the head and arms, that one rib was
| broken and internal injuries received. Also
| that there was a compound fracture of the
left foot and a compound dislocation of the
| right foot. The doctor found that the left
foot would have to be amputated if the
patient rallied enough to warrant an opera
ton. He did not rally, however, and died al
| 1890.
The unfortunate man was about
AZ years of age and lived at No. 81
Broad street. He leaves a wife and Ave chill
dren. Mr.. Forsyth said to our reporter that
he was very steady, Trustworthy man, fru-
gal and temperate, and had been in his en-
ploy as engineer for quite a long time. He
otherwise spoke well of him. The shaft wa
making about so reVolutiong a minute wheI
the accident occurred. Fletcher was mem
Der of the Stationary Engineers association.
He met with an accident some time ago
While oiling the engine his arm was caught
and jsmmed against post. He recovered
entirely from the injury. The same physi
clan attended him on that occasion.