Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-05-26
LESSOR KILLED.
Grinder at Pulp Mill Bursts with
Fatal Results.
Miners Narrowly Escape-Piscss Of Broken
wheel Fly In All Directions.

One of the grinders at the pulp mill burst,
Friday afternoon, about 2 o'clock, badly in
iuring Phillip Lessor. from the results of
which he died at 7.l5.
Parts of the large stone wheel flew in
nearly every direction and life in most any
mart of the room was in danger. Phillip
Lessor, the injured man, who had charge of
the wheel, was struck by several of the
broken parts and Immediately fell unccn-
scious where he was standing. When the
hands in the room, numbering about l6,
heard the report of the bursting of
the stone, all rushed out, except
r. I. Gray, who has charge of
that department. He had presence of mind
enough to rush to the wheels and reverse
the mower. This brave act was done with
great risk, there being several wheels to
turn off, but it was safely accomplished.
When the grinders were stopped and the
pieces of the huge wheel had found resting
places, Phillip Lessor was picked up and
carried to the second story. The Doctors
Martin were Immediately sent for and it
was found that the man was badly injured.
His right arm and left Leg were
broken, his body injured and head
deeply cut in several places. He
was stretched on work bench and
for over two hours, while he lay, there he
must have suffered great pain. When
last seen by a Journal reporter he was
thought to be breathing his last, and shortly
afterward died.
David Cloutier, another workman, was
struck by sharp piece Of the flying stones
and his head cut several inches in length,
recurring some eight or ten stitches. A
, man named Martin had one of his hands
slightly cut by one Of the flying pieces. but
otherwise no one was hurt, though there
were some very remarkable escapes.
John A. Hamblin, superintendent of the
electric light station, was sitting on win
dow sill directly in front of the grinder, and
had moved only few seconds before the
grinder burst, and large piece struck just
where he was seated, tearing q great hole in
the wall. Had he been sitting there when
the piece struck he would have met instant
death.
A large trap door has been taken up in
order to make slight repairs to the water
wheel of the electric light station. This
wheel is located underneath the floor where
the grinders are stationed. The trap door
had been shifted so that it came partly over
the opening. A large piece of the broken
grinder was thrown upon this door,
and nearly directly under it
was man at work on
the machinery come cted with the wheel.
Fortunately he was not hurt. Several
large pieces of the grinder were thrown
against the plank floor of the second story,
tearing it up for several feet.
The cause of the grinder bursting is said
to have been due to Lassor's carelessness, in
allowing it to 60 beyound the average speed,
which is about $50 revolutions per minute.
The wheel was 80 inches in diameter and
weighed 1000 pounds. Lassor's work con-
sisted of feeding the blocks into this grinder.
His helper was Joe Perry.
The stone grinders used at the pulp mill,
came from Nova Scotia, Ohio and Scotland.
The ones from the latter place. are con-
sidered the best. The broken crusher was
taken out and new one put in.
A wife and two children survive him and
are living at Fairfield. He was about 80
years of age