The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-11
BEN LUDWIo,s ESCAPES.
sonetbInE Always Happening TO Hin, but
He Isn't n Uscd.up Man Yet

He Isn't n Uscd.up Man Yet
From me Letciston Journal
WALDoBoRo. May 9.-NIr. Benjamin Lud-
wigs horoscope must have consisted mainly Of
meteors and shooting stars with few dyna-
mite explosions and volcanic eruptions thrown
in, for. during almost his entire life. he has
boon subject to a series OF remarkable accl.
dents, from some OF which II would have
seemed impossible for him to escape alive.
Many of his calamities. perhaps, may DO at
triDutcd to the fact that lie has been very
acsES nan ana atSyG mora re n9T GaS TO be
In his younger day he, worked in the ship
adze. Tho noble ship William f. storer s was
one OF the finest vessels that ever left Maine
decker ever built in Town. Mr.. Ludwig worked
on her. and one day fell thirty-two feet into the
would have boen laid up for eternity.
Again, while clubbing vessel in Welts yard
eight feet body rst legs and ar%s e%1
tending upward into the air, and struck on his
back across, the edge Of plank nailed By the
mishap took another year.
After his recovery he went to Damarlscotta
to work, but no better success attended him,
for he managed to fall again. inlurinR himself
badly but not speceeding in killing himself.
in Glarks yard. tumbied from stern staging
the trtling distance OF ten feet and broke three
F bs M Of maSne ha The d falls were
timber as an eel and as spry as a cat Not long
since he lell on the leo and though he calls
out touch hing his hands to any support what
eyer, feat that taxes the most active. OF
these frightful falls in the yard and the pre-
ceding events he remembers nothing
- friend Of his says That on one occasion I'M
convenience upon the last or highest staging.
For this purpose he undertook to bore hole
b to- an a n Thfh Re n
was several feet beyond his reach nevertheless
he took long auEer, aimed at the spot he
upright, missed ii, and-what seemed almost
impossible recovered himself and tried again
When the railroad was built, Uncle Ben tired
OF the monotony of the shipyard and its COM
work as n section man Soon he fonnu Thai
though he could not fall very. far. there was q
chance to go up into the air. One day two
hand cars were spinning down q steep grade,
the CT anks flying like lightning: Uncle Ben was
In the foremost and got snarled M In the crank
high into the air, and. coming down, head fore
most straight as u rule struck on tie and fell
hind ran over his stomach The occupants Of
the foremost car were wrecked and nearly
remains of Uncle Ben and tenderly laid him on
the grass near the track and went back to the
ear 6ans SSdS r tbey hey frnndsd oafk TO carry nm
curing he had been hurt A train soon
arriving bore solemn but thankful party back
THIS is the only serious accident that ever
belell him on the railroad. After he grew to-
During the course Of his operations It became
necessary TO blast some boplders.. hole was
tamping bar while an other man struck it with
4 sledgehammer Suddenly there was a flash
and a roar The sedgehammer flew away into
ba aM an ann so e dd GnGle BeS
apparently. Tho clothes were blown Off from
hrows were Rono and his body completely
tia a. lie was gathered up and carried
u few, months he resumed operations.
to snk one rock weighing sew
ono side and beneath it. A man who saw him
as he worked near and under the rock. said
sH n,a Zen is Going to get pinched there"
heard. The station was near by. and the agent.
who had been in several caamities with Uncle
for his relief, He was badly iammed, but bis
lie was soon hauled out Of the hole and was
able to walk home. This accident resulted In
the rock again and Sft the croSbar W Under the
rock. !. 1t rustcd till it looked like copper bar.
dn these STGH q0f b ora the o 9st lime
ruin and destruction dog his steps. A few sum-
on age ne fp9n short ood tine at Martins
ng far out from the sh0re and on the wharf
Mr.. Ludwig one morning stroed out on this
wharf to catch cunnors, A young lady went
With him. but soon went back. About 1--WE min
loiae and got tho impression that something
vas moving. Looking up be found that between
10 jumped to his feot and ran toward the end
# the wharf to escape the falling buildings.
OYER went tho structure. at first slowly then
With n crash tho whole business collapsed,
arrying. our friend down with 1t into the
vater., II one, could calculate the chances Of
'oinG down with wharf and not being forced
nder water and drowned, or. escaping, that OF
icing crushed or manned by the pilinRs or
imborS, there would probably not be one
hang. in ono thousand OF getting out, alive.
allied help to him Saved again !" he ex-
aimed, whou lie !ound himself secure ashore
'ith only II few trinG bruises
He has had no hlirbreaIh escapes now for
uitc while. Formerly no carried accident
but now the companies don't want
} take his RI K. lie seems to be double eXtra
pecial hazardous