Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-10
TWO MEN KILLED.
A BLACKSMITH CAUGHT IN MACHINE
RY-A DRIVER DASHED TO DEATH.
The Fearful Casualties that Bsfol stephen
C. Dyer and william Lang
ridge.

I tcI, DtdckSnltu ny trhue, mtb VIII
shocking accident yesterday morning,
which resulted in his death few hours
later
About 7 O'Clock he left his home, at
the northeast corner of Tenth and Nc
Donough streets in the full enjoyment
OF health and in fine spirits. Not long
| aiterward he was borne home on litter
with nearly every bone in his body
broken, unconscious, and speechless.
The occurrence caused widespread
sorrow. and the sad intelligence flashed
over tie city and to Richmond in the
shortest conceivable time.
PARTICULARS.
The facts connected with the accidentare
| these When Nr. Dyer lett his home for
his shop. on Seventh street, he went by
! Rollins brickyard, which is but a block
of and between bis house and Seventh
street, on which is the shop to see If
shaft which he had repaired last week
was working correctly. After hating
for few moments down in the engine
house he and Mr.. Rollm went up on
the platform where the brickmaking
machine, or the "soft-mud machine,
as it is called, is located. The shaft
which Mr. Dyer straightened is the one
on which are fastened the teeth or
cogs which grind the mortar. Run
ming OFF from this machine is another
shat. near the end OF which is the band
wheel The coupling OF this shaft is
only few inches from the grinding ma
chinery and where the joint is fastened
with bolts. These latter project for
about an inch. While standing near this
| Joint, and leaning over TO see II the
grinding shaft WAS working all right, one
of these projecting bolts caught his over
coat, which was of extraordinary length
and slightly frayed at the bottom, and
the coat was drawn around the shaft,
which was revolving mt the rate of
| $50 times per minute, its maximum
speed. Mr. Oyer was drawn down
with bis coat, and be never
knew anything more. The engineer
heard sound which indicated that some
thing was caught in the machinery and
at once stopped the engine. This shaft
is only about eighteen inches above the
! platform aud the engineer estimates that
! deceased was carried around and dashed
against the floor at least fifty times be-
fore the machinery stopped. When tlr.
Rolin, who was standing onl Y few feet
| distant conversing with Mr.. Dyer,
reached the latter he was lying under the
shaft with his. left arm hanging over
it, Some idea OF the momentum
with which he was thrown Iuay
be gained when it is stated that
every thread Of clothing was torn from
his body save part OF one sock and a
| small piece OF tine drawers over the left
knee. Drs. Matthews and Ingram were
summoned and q mattress was obtained
from the Danyille shops, on which the
unfortunate man was borne to his
grief-stricken wife and four children.
An examination showed that the body
was completely ground up. and that
there were few bones not broken. The
left arm was like Jelly, the ribs were
crushed in, both legs were broken III
more than one place, and besides two
holes made in the head every bone in il
almost WAS broken. He never regained
consciousness nor uttered a sound, aud
only one muscle IN him was seen TO
move before death came to his relief at
2:40 p. ".
ANOTHER VERSION.
There is current another version Of this
accident which attributes Mr. Ian
rridee's death to fall from his seat be-
tween the two horses and to getting
entangled in the traces, but from the
best information that Coroner Taylor
could procure the account here given is
correct.
True such clouds of dust followed the
runaway horses and wagon that only
few persons pretended to be able to see
deceased's position, and the weight Of
the testimony of these goes to show
that Mr. Langridge was hanging on to
the brides fora considerable time, though
that he was wound up in the reins, or
traces. or something there seems no
doubt.
PERSONAL.
Mr.. Dyer was born in the State of
Maine in 1850, and about 1866 or soon
thereafter came to Manchester to accept
position with Andrews, Ordway & Co.,
Government contractors, who had large
stone-cuttiDg sheds just below the city.
He married daughter of eX-Councll-
man A. G.. Gibbs, and his
wife with four children survive
him. He was a member of the Balm
bridge-Street Baptist church, a quiet,
good citizen, and a careful and conscien-
tlous workman. His horrible death will
produce general sympathy here. The
arrangements for the funeral have not
yet been made.
\ Driver KILLED by HIS Horses.
Mr. William Langridge, q driver for
Kingan ~ Co., pork-packers, was killed
by his horses yesterday evening about 6
O'Clock.
Mr. Langridge Lad been delivering
goods in the western part of the city and
was returning down town, when i'll cross
ing Leigh street where it intersects Brook
avenue the front wheels of the two-hOrse
wagon sank into A depression in the ave-
nue. where water-pipes had some years
ago been laid The tongue was broken
aud struck one of the horses, and they
began to run off, Mr.. Langridge jumped
to the ground and went to the horses
heads to hold them, but was unable to do |
it, and getting entangled IN the reins he |
found it impossible 30 let go without /
falling under the horses feet. In this
way he was dragged for square and q
half, during which be behaved with great |
courage, and having exhausted all his et
forts, and being unable either to stop the
maddened animals or to extricate him.
self, he cried out for help.
DASHED AGAINST TREE.
Arriving near the street.car stables,
several men ran out to Mr.. Langridge's |
assistance, but before they could reach !
him the horses had run up against a tree
on the north side of the street, and ne
fell dead.
The horses were soon afterwards |
brought to halt.
From examinations made by Coroner |
Taylor on the ground, and by Moses ID.
Hoge, NJ. d., at the room of deceased, |
il appeared that the skull was fractured |
behind one ear, both legs were broken |
ot tha onklaa and there were other Iniu- (