Morning journal and courier., 1890-05-22
cred himself and tried again until he sue.

cred himself and tried again until he suc- ceeded.
 When the railroad was built Uncle Ben, tired of the monotony of the shipyard and its comparative freedom from fatal acci- dents, went to work as section man. Soon he found that though he could not fall very far, there was chance to go up into the air. One day two hand cars were spinning down steep grade, the cranks flying like Mght- ming. Uncle Ben was in the foremost and got snarled up in the crank in some way. He was hurled by centrifugal force high into the air, and coming down head foremost, straight as a rule, struck on tie and fell behind ran over his stomach. The occu- pants of the foremost car were wrecked and nearly killed, but some one took the sup- posed lifeleas remains of Unole Ben and ten- derly laid him on the grass near the track and went back to the car. Sadly they trun- dled back to carry him home, when they found him sitting up and inauiring ''if he had been hurt" A train soon arriving bore a solemn but thankful party back to the sta. tion.
 This Is the only serious accident that ever befell him on the railroad. After he grew together again he went to work on his farm. During the course of his operations It became necessary to blast some bou1ders. A hole was drilled and loaded. Uncle Ben sat astride the tamping bar while another man struck it with sledge hammer. Suddenly hammer flew away inte swamp an eight of a mile away. The rock burst into fragments and 80 did Uncle Ben-apparently. The clothes were blown off from him and set on fire, his hair, beard and eyebrows were gone and his body completely blackened. He was gathered up and carried to the house, but he refused to stay, and after few months he resumed operations.
 He decided to sink one rock weighing sev- on one side and beneath it. A man Who saw him as he worked near and under the rock, said casually, "Ben Is going to get pinched there." Sure enough, loud cry for help
 was soon heard. The station was near by,
 and the agent, who had been in several ca
 lamities with Uncle Ben, knew what the cries meant Hastily picking up bars and was badly jammed, but his bar had saved him from being crushed to pulp. He was soon hauled out of the hole and was able to walk home. This accident resulted in a per- manent laneness He never went near the rock again and left the crowbar under the rock. It rusted till 1t looked like copper bar.
 All these events took place in the direct line of duty. But even in his outings for
  A few summers ago he spent short time at Martins Point. Near this resort stood 8 wharf extending far out from the shore, and on the wharf were number of small build- ings.
 MT. Ludwig one morning strolled out on this wharf to catch cunners. A young lady went with him, but soon went back. About
 five minutes after her departure he heard 8 squeaking noise and got the impression that something was moving. Looking up, he found that between him and the shore the
 wharf was caving in. He jumped to his
 feet and ran toward the end of the wharf to escape the falling buildings. Over went the structure, at first slowly, then with crash the whole business collapsed, carrying our friend down with it into the water. If one |-could calculate the chances of going down with wharf and not being forced under water and drowned, or, escaping, that of be- l ing crushed or maimed by the billings or l timbers, there would probably not be one l chance in one thousand of getting out alive. | But he received only few bruises and soon 1 called help to him. ''Saved again!" he ex- l claimed when he found himself secure ashore with only few triding bruises. He has had no hairbreath escapes now fol quite while. Formerly he carried accident l insurance, but now the companies don' want to take his risk. He seems to be dou
 ble extra special hazardous.