Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1891-05-07
BURNED WITH IRON,
Four Men Injured at the Foundry by a
Ladle Tipping Over.

Four Men Injured at the Foundry by a
Ladle Tipping Over.
j. Stanton, John Sullivan, Ed Rouse
and M. Hackett were burned at Osgood
& Sons foundry Tuesday afternoon by a
ladle holding two tons of melted iron
tipping over. So far as can be learned
the casualty was purely an accident, no
ones carelessness being in any degree re-
sponsible for it. Workmen had placed
the mould as usual for large casting.
They were advised by the foreman to
change the flask from the end to the side
nearer the crane, but instead, the mould
as 1t stood was pushed slightly outside
the sweep of the crane. A chain was
then put around the pot and two men
took hold to swing it back so it would
hit the flask. But they did not get it
quite far enough and the metal went over
and flew in every direction. The ladle
holding the melted metal is a huge iron
pot supported by a bail in such way
that the heavier part comes below the
bail so that 1t is impossible to tip it with
out applying some sort Of power. For
this purpose cranks are fastened to the
pot, one on each side, one man taking
hold of each. AS an additional safe
guard two more men are provided with
levers so arranged that they can steady
the tipping of the pot. When the pour
ing began the metal instead of going
into the flask, went over. The men at
the cranks let it 90 back sudden
ly which caused it to slop, then the men
let the chain slip and the great pot swung
back causing the mass to slop the other
way, flying everywhere. This much is
known but the rest is largely suppose
ton. 1t is thought that the men at the
crane became frightened and left their
posts without trigging the wheels. That
let the two tons of melted iron down and
the pot probably caught on the edge of
the mould fitting over and letting the
iron run in every direction. Nothing
broke, nor is it thought that the men
were careless. The machinery was found
intact and as strong as before. j. Stan
ton was burned down the front of one
leg and about the feet, particularly in
the fleshy part of the foot, where the
iron was imprisoned in the shoes. John
Sullivan fell into the mass on the ground,
thrusting both hands into it. He was
also burned about the chest and face.
One of the others was burned about the
feet by the iron getting into his shoes
and the others injuries were also about
the feet. The talk that amputation
was necessary is utterly without founda-
ton. Stanton is new man, Tuesday
being his fifth day. 1t is not known
where he came from here. Sullivan came
from Keene, and Hackett is son of
James Hackett. The injured men are do
ing as well as possible and will probably
fully recover in time. The best medical
attendance is given the men whose suf.
ferings are terrible.
1t maybe said that the men were I'M
necessarily careless. But from their
standpoint they were not. Probably
they have done the same things many
times before. 1t was simply one of the
accidents which will occasionally occur
in any business, no matter how free from
danger it may seem. There is absolutely
no blame to be placed on anyone, the
talk about imperfect machinery and
breaking chains being utterly without
foundation.