The Newtown bee., 1893-06-30
In Fairfield County.
BEDDING.
A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.

During a period of about two weeks Robert Monteith, in the employ of E. W. Sipperly, had been engaged in boring $ well for Miss Julia H. Sanford near her residence. On Wednesday last, previous to shutting down for dinner, he started his engine to wind up his rope on the cylinder, having replaced some that was worn with new. It was necessary that it should wind truly like thread on a spool. Seeing that it did not do so he stepped up about two feet and placed his hand upon it that it might be properly adjusted, when his fingers caught between the rope and the cylinder. The unfortun- ate man was thus drawn with all the power of the ponderous machine, against the frame work till his arm was actually torn from his body before the engine could be stopped. Notwithstanding the terrible accident he displayed wonderful nerve and remarked to his helper, Il have lost my arm,' and walked unaided into the house. Dr Annie M. Reid, who lives with Miss Sanford, happened to be ab- sent visiting patient. She was sent for immediately and in the meantime Miss Sanford and other ladies did what they could to stop the flow of blood. AS soon as Dr Reid arrived, she decided at once that the best thing that could be done was to send him to the hospital, in which decision Monteith acquiesced. J. M. Sul- | livan, the merchant living near by, pro- cured large carryall and took out the seats and fixed a bed on which the wound ed man was laid. He walked out to the carriage himself unaided and even on his | arrival at the hospital wanted to walk in. | pr Reid accompanied him to Bridgeport, administering hypodermic injections of morphine as the occasion required. On his arrival at the hospital (which by the way was anticipatcd) the stump of his arm was amputated close to the shoulder but the shock to his system was too great and in about an hour the brave fellow sunk away without returning to con- seriousness. The accident cast a gloom over our community being something so unusual in our quiet town. The young man was well liked by all who knew 1 him. He was a sober, industrious young man and had saved some money. He told | his helper that this was his last job at well digging, as he intended to go into other business. MT Sipperley himself will finish the well, which will always be associated with this fearful tragedy. It | would be amusing, if it wee not such a serious subject, to read the gross blunders all the county papers (eXcept TIE BEE) made in describing the accident. The Standard said the accident occurred on the farm of Abel Hawkins. There is no such man il Bedding and we doubt whether there is such a man in Fairfield county. It also said that the only med
 ical assistance that could be obtained,
 was 'Doctress Amelia Read," implying that she was makeshift, when all the
 people of Bedding, Easton and adjoining
 towns know that Dr Annie M. Reid is the peer of any of her medical associate;
 in the county and stands high in her pro fession. Monteith, to his last moment o1 consciousness, manifested his appreciat ion of what she had done for him. Per
 haps it was a covert sheer at women doc
 tors or doctresses (save the markD II instico to the Standard we would say tn, Farmer was no nearer the mark and mos ) of the other papers followed suit, one pa F per, the Hour, going so far as to say i
 the man could have had proper medica
 attendance at once, he might have beel 9 saved, statement that all acquainted with the nature of the wound know to b.
 false. Everything was done for him tha
 medical science and careful nursing coult
 do. His death was foregone conclus
 ion from the first. The moral of tn
 whole matter is if you want reliabl
 county news read THE BEE.