Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-08
CAUGHT BY THE SAW.
HORRIBLE ozark OF A YOUNG MAN
AT THE WhEeL-FAcTORY.
Robert Penny Falls Across the Carriage
aud IL Borne Against the Steel,
being Cut IN Two.

Robert Penny. white'man about 81
years of age, met with horrible death at
the Virginia and North Carolina Wheel
and Hub-Factory, about quarter OF
mile from the eastern corporate limits,
yesterday afternoon about 1880 o'clock.
In some manner he stumbled and fell
over one OF the immense circular saws in
the shed adjoining the main building, and
In an instant his body was cut in two.
Before the workmen fully realized what
was the matter the unfortunate man was q
mutilsted corpse.
The deceased and two companions
named Henry Darby and 10. Silva visited
the saw-mill. apparently IA quest OF work:
while the operatives were busily engaged
with their duties. and although several
persons saw them no one paid any particu-
lar attention to the strangers. They
walked through the shed TO the place
where the saw was running, and Penny
approached Mr.. William III. Eldridge. who
was in charge of the machine, and Joking
" asked him II he could give him JOB.
Mr.. Eldndge noticed that tho deceased
had been drinking and told him TO 60
away.
HIS BODY CUT IN TWO.
Penny withdrew few fee: and caught
hold Of n post, which was directly on o
line with and about SIX feet from the saw.
Just AT that moment Mr. Eidridge turned
his back, and when he looked towards the
machine again he beheld a terrible sight.
On one side of tho saw was the head,
shoulders, chest. and one arm OF the de-
ceased. while on the other lay the lifeess
trunk and lower limbs of Penny. together
with the right arm. which had been com
pletely severed by the deadly steel. The
l. 20 20 Rod bean emf lac
guillotine. aud so complete was the fearful
work OF the saw that even tho clothing
was divided as though sliced with SCISSORS.
The betting TO the machinery was re-
moved as quickly a. possible and the saw
stopped. but il was then too late to DO
anything, az Penny was perfectly liteiess.
The unfortunate man uttered no cry
when he fell upon the instrument OF his
destruction, and his death must have been
Instantaneous The saw upon which he
fell is o. inches in diameter and makes
about 500 revolutions a minute. Its teeth
are at least 81 or inches long
HIS FATAL SLIP.
IL il supposed that Penny. when he
slipped. undertook to cross the wooden
tramway of the machine, and being
somewhat unsteady III his gait fell aud
was killed before he had an opportunity
TO utter q cry. HIS companions LETT the
tCtut Oh lut dllihNhb bihiNoN
after the catastrophe and did not appear
at the factory again. The CHASTITY corpse,
mutilated as II was. Law near the saw until
Squire Barney Frischkorn. Of Henrlco
county. arrived, when il was placed on a
plank and covered up. Later IN the day
II was taken TO McDonough's undertaking
establishment. on Eighteenth street. and
prepared for burial.
Squire Frschkorn held an inquest over
the remains at O'Clock and examined five
of the wOrkmen who were IN or near the
saw-mill when Penny's death occurred.
Their testimony showed that the demise
Of the unfortunate man was due entirely
to On accident. and the jury rendered a
verdict TO this effect. They fully eXone-
rated the operatives from any blame III the
matter.
WAS SOON TO HAVE MARRIED.
None Of Penny's relatives except q
brother-in-law came over to the factory
after his death, and the latter declined TO
assist in removing the mutllatod corpse
from the saw when 1t was placed on the
plank. This refusal. however, was doubt
less due TO feeling Of revulsion which the
terrible sight naturally caused.
The deceased is son of MIR. Luck Penny,
shlp-carpcnter, who resides on Lester
street near the lower Gas Works. At one
time be was employed at the establish
ment where he lost his life. 1t was said by
some who knew him that he was 70 be
married in few months