The Wichita daily eagle., 1895-11-08
SHEPHERD is HIT
FIRST ACCIDENT AT THE PROSPECT
WELL YESTERDAY.
Block and Tackle Breaks Loose from Their
Fastening at the Top Of the Derrick and
Comes Down Like Thunderbolt, strik-
ing Albert Shepherd, Breaking His Leg
and Otherwise Severely Injuring Him
Two Other Men have a Narrow Escape
shepherds Condition at a Late Hour
Particulars of the Accident.

my God, he is killed." was the start
ling cry yesterday afternoon at the
prospect well by Contractor Austin as
he witnessed the blood squirting from
the side of the head of Albert Shepherd
who was standing near the bottom OF
the derrick directing the hammer in
its downward descent
The men were engaged in putting
the iron tiling in place of the old wood
en- tubing which had been tried and
were driving ii in to the blue clay be-
meath the Subteranean river or lake.
and for the purpose were using the
block and tackle to raise the man.
moth sledge.
Without a moments warning the fas-
Jennings which held the block and tackle
at the top of the shaft gave way and
like bullet shot from gun it descend
ed through the air. Midway in its de-
scent it passed between ]. W. Vance
and Frank Austin, just grazing thnir
sides. Had either one of the men stood
an inch nearer the heavy board would
have passed through them. AS it was
they were close enough to have the but
tons on the waist jackets cut COM
pletely off as though by knife.
At the foot of the derrick stood AL
bert Shepherd, who directed the lower
end of the weight. The tackle did not
strike him fair,as IL il had done so, he
would never have known what hurt
him
1t was close enough however, that the
side of the board struck him on the
right side of the head cutting a severe
cash and shattering his arm, tearing
the flesh in a horrible manner. His
right leg was broken in two places be-
low the knee.
OF course he was knocked to the
ground and completely covered with
loose boards that held the block and
tackle in position. The men lost no
companion, who they found covered
with blood.
MY God, he is killed." was the YER
dict of the contractor
But to such a haSty verdict as this,
the man who was supposed TO have
been killed entered a vigorous protest
and instructed them to take him home
and send for a doctor, as he was worth
a dozen dead men yet.
The man was carried to his residence
1902 North Topeka and Drs. Hupp, Nc
Clees and Purdue were called and dres-
sed the wounds of the injured man
low the knee and the right arm serious
ly bruised and lacerated, but no bones
broken in this limb, and a severe cash
on the right side Of the head. besides
other bruises on the body. They all
pronounced the injuries while serious
and painful. that there was nothing to
indicate that the unfortunate man had
been injured internally or that there
was anything to warrant the belief
that the injuries would prove fatal.
An Eagle reporter called at the resi-
dance of Mr. Shepherd last night and
the man was able to give all the par
ticulars of the accident, even TO the
foot as to how far the block and tackle
had fell, and his sensation when struck
He says that he was not knocked in
sensible but that he saw more stars
than can be found in the "milky-way"
OF the Heavens. He is man with an
iron nerve and while the physicians
were setting his limb, and sewing up
the cash in his head he never flinched
or scarcely batted his eyes.
Tell the boys that ! am somewhat
but still in the ring, and ex-
pect TO be present when Wichita shall
celebrate the discoveries made at the
first prospect well. will soon be about
again."