Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-10-05

a
ture than water had frozen solid, and he was
unable to make the hole in the end necessary
for the introduction of the cap or fnse The
proper way to warm frozen cartridge SO
that it may be used is to turn over a sod,
place the cartridge beneath it, and by kind
ling small fire on top gradually thaw it
out.
This operation however takes time and
much quicker but more dangerous method
is to warm the cartridge by directly exposing
them to the heat of the fire. Neyens had
often done this before, and indeed no ac-
cident is likely TO occur if the cartridges
are carefully watched and removed before
they are heated up to the explosive point
Putting four of the cartridges in a shovel,
Nevens walked up to the fire and began to
heat them gently After a moment he took
hold of the lever which works the bellows
with one hand and began to start up the
fire. Wade spoke to him, saying that he
was very foolish to take so much risk but
he replied that he had often warmed car
tridgcs in that manner, and that there was
no danger. Wade then told him that he
might warm them that way if he wanted to :;
he wasn't going to stay around and started
away. He had not gone more than ten feet
before he heard an explosion, clear, sharp
and of terrific force, the conclusion of
which knocked him down. AS he rose the
clear ring smokp sbnwo1 him tarrihIa
sight. On the ground about six feet
from the remains of the forge was the pros
trate form of Nevens, with the right arm
shattered, his face blackened with powder,
and the blood pouring from twenty different
wounds, fast forming a pool beneath him.
As soon as they realized what had happened
Grady and Nelson rushed to the nearest house
for help. Wade went to the side of Nevens,
and succeeded in partially binding up the
wounds with his handkerchief Not
outstanding his terrible suffering,
Nevens retained all his senses
and seemed to realize the terrible misfortune
which had befallen him, In his agony he
spoke several times of his wife and the suffer
ing which she must undergo, Grady soon
returned with MIR. Frank Chadwick who was
driving into the city, and Nevens, who had
the bottom of the cart and brought nearly two
miles to his home on Bangor street, where
Drs G.. W and X. j. Martin were in wait
ing. An examination of his injuries showed
L., ha ;yht Ia a.
eyes was destroyed, and the face blackened
with powder till it was almost unrecogniz-
able. The right forearm was mangled to
Jelly and was Immediately amputated about
two inches below the elbow.
The smaller bone of the right leg was
broken, the right great toe was blown off,
and on the head and legs were eight severe
wounds caused by flying bits of coal and
iron. Nevens is a native of Hartland where
both his parents reside He is quarryman
by trade About year ago he married a
young lady from Blaine, and came to this
city where he has worked at his business and
in the pulp mill till about two weeks since,
when he entered the employ of the Kennebec
Light and Heating Co., and has been ut work
drilling. His wife has been perfectly calm
since the first outburst of feeling after hear
ing of the accident, but goes about with the
air of one heartbroken, and it is feared that
the nervous strain may render her seriously
i'll. Her husband was thrty-two years of
age and was steady, hard working man,
who, during his stay in this city, had made
many friends.
The Journal representative called upon
Mr. Wade, who though he has received sew
eral flesh wounds is rot seriously injured.
Mr.. Wade after assisting in the removal of
Nevens, found that he had been struck in the
back and right leg by several pieces of the
iron bonnet covering the forge and on exam
ination DIR. Hill extracted eight bits of iron.
His most serious wound is in the back of the
ig hit thigh from which piece of iron over
three inches across was removed. Mr.. Wade
is very cheerful and hopes soon to be about
again. He will receive the benefits of his
membership in the Grand Army and the A.
O. L. W. during his convalescence.
The Kennebec Co. have made every posi-
BILE provision for the medical treatment and
care of Nevens. Although none of the fly
ing bits of iron and coal struck him in a
vital part, the number and severity of the
wounds preclude the possibility of his re-
covery. In his pockets were found six more
of the deadly dynamite cartridges.
The reporter visited the scene of the acct
dent before any of the debris had been re-
moved. The anvil which sits on the stone
wall by the side of the road was not stirred
bv the explosion, but the forge about three
feet TO the east was broken into bits, the
largest of which were not more than three
inches in diameter. A small piece of the
shovel handle covered with blood was picked
nm some rods away. The spot where Nevens
was thrown by the explosion was marked b,
A large patch of deep crimson. The injured
man had for long time contemplated join
ing the United Order of Friends, but ha'
DELAYED the matter from time to time, am
was not insured. With the exception of
small sum which he had laid up during tn
summer he will leave his family destitute.
At the time of the accident Grady wa
within ten feet of the forge bnt luckily es
, capped all injury. Nelson was at work som
5 thirty rods away
The reporter visited the scene of the acc
= dent before any of the debris had been n
moved. The anvil which is on the ston