The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-24
Observation-Disclosures
A Horrible Accident Befalls
Horatio Stetson.
CONSCIOUS THROUGH AGONY.
u Circular Saw Fenetrases His Skull
aad Even the Braia-feand by
His Brother leroy.

The snost horrible mill accident in the
history Of this city occurred yesterday
morning between $50 asd 8 O'Clock at
the Sfefson & Post MiIl Cesnpany's
mill On lower Commercial street. when
Horatio A. Stetson. an engineer, ran
his head against a circular rip saw,
which cut his skull open clear across
his head and penetrated the brain fully
three inches. Wonderful as ii may
seem, Mr. S,esson never loss conscious
ness, and although his power Of speech
was paralyzeti for a time. last even
voice. His chances Of recovery are
slight.
Horatio Stetson Is brother OF the
Stetsons who are known all over Pu-
get sound as pioneers In Washington
great industry. He has been in the
city about seven years and worked con-
stantiy at the mill, in which he has
some stock. Tie was the head engineer,
and also assisted his brother Leroy
Stetson. who had charge OF the plan
ing mill.
Yesterday morning Leroy and Ho-
ratio Stetson were preparing to saw
out sour1e picture frame stock. and had
occasion TO stop in theft work to fix
a feed belt to the small circular rip
saw. which is about ten inches In di-
ameter ana very thin, with sharp
teeth. The table on which 1t is set
is not more than three and half feet
above the floor.
A Horrible Discovery.
When 1t was discovered that the belt
was Off, Leroy Stetson went to the
front side of the table to make the ati-
justment on the counfershaft. while
Horatio went to the backfo 40 the same
work on the arar. The latter crawled
on his hands and knees under the tat4e,
and. in some manner not exactly
known, ran his head against the saw.
Leroy from his position at the front
of the bench. could not see what hap
pened. but heard sharp, metallic
sound as If the saw had struck an
iron bot. He ran quickly around to
the other side and found his brother
backing out from under the table His
hat was gone. and his head looked as
Ii it was in two pieces. Blood and
brains We're gushing from deep cash
across the top Of his head Just In front
OF his ears. The horrible sight sent
thrill of horror through the brother,
and as he sprang to the bleeding mans
side he cried ont:
Ny God, what has happened"
Then he raised him to his feet, and
with his hands pressed the gaping parts
OF his head together. The victim OF the
cruel saw stood m0tionless and dumb.
Speak to- me- impiored the brother,
but the only reply he received was a
mute appeal from the wide-open eyes.
The man knew what was going on.
but had lost the power OF speech. A
towel was hastily brought, aid with
1t Leroy hound the cut head. thus
stopping to great extent the dow Of
blood. which had become dangerous
and was surely weakening the injured
man. Foreman Keene, of the yard, who
was close at hand when the accident
happened, and w. w. Phiibrick, who
runs one OF the pIaners, assisted in
carrying Mr.. Stetson into the mill
office on Commercial street, while a
messenger was sent after physician.
Conscious. but Speeches..
DR.. Wotherspoon was secured. and
on arriving al the Office thought he
would dress the wound there. On learn
Ing OF its serious nature. however. he
decided TO remove the patient to provi-
dence hospital. where all the facilities
for difficult surgical work are at hand
The police patrol wagon was called,
and In a few minutes Horatio Stetson
was on his way to the hospital. At one
side was his brother Leroy and on the
other was w W. Phiibriek, Mr.. Sset-
son took hold OF Mr. Philbrick's f1and.
and all the WY to the hospital gripped
1t with q strength one would hardly
believe possible. He kept his arm re-
volving. and all efforts to stop this were
futile. Not 81 word could he speak but
when spoken to would look straight
into the speakers face as If he would
have given the world TO have been able
to reply.
Without any delay he was placed on
the operating table and ctieraforu adj
minlsterei. Then the full extent of the
wounds was discovered. Tt was a ter
ribie cut. extending entirely across the
top Of the head and down nearly 10 a
leve. with the tops Of his ears. From,
the circular shape of the saw the hratr,
matter must have been cut deeper -s,an
was the skull at the points OF exit on
either side Of the head.
The doctor saw at a glance that the
principal cause Of loss or blood was the
cutting If the longitudinal sincws ON
top or the head. In order TO stop this
the skull was srephaned. and then the
patent was placed in bed. He soon
recovered from the influence OF the
chloToform and recognized those wbo
were with lin.
He was still unable to sneak. hut
through signs In reply 10 remarks nd
dressed TO him IL was learned that h4
wanted his mother, VINO had been SER,
for and vas on her way to the hrs.
psfai. Her appearance IN THE room
seenfeSi 10 relieve htfusto a considerable
extent. and he would hold her hama
In much the same way he held Mr.
fh'sorleks on the way TO the hospital.
Via spssea isesaras again.
As The day passed away hts conal
ton seemed 10 Improve slightly. powes
OF speech returned slowly. ard at
| O'Clock In the evening he made hlrlsalt
heard ard understood by Mrs. Georx,
| Sfetso., HIS hrother's wife.
He get II into his head ths. ri,
/ mother was Gus ~ the room and sno
sionsng Mrs. StasSon tn him. ne SAL
in ii very low tone. almost whisper
/ Mother. :"
she is here In the roogn." replsrt
Mrs. Sfetsan, ''ase you In pain ~
lie shcok his head. His mother arsss.
from her chair and "a ms 10 sna Y,es