The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-17
WHIRLED AROUND A SHAFT.
NARROW ESCAPE FROM DEATH OF
TWO CAR WORKS EMPLOYEES.

f. L. BOurGuin and Harry Heitzman
Were Engaged i'm OiIfng the Ma
chinery Near the Shaft-A SET
Screw Caught Bourquin by the
Back of His Coat and Whirled Him
Around the shaft, His Flying Feet
Coming in Contact with Heitz-
mans Head and BOdy-Bourquin
Had One Leg Broken and Sustain
ed Other Serious Injuries.
Two employees of the Georgia Car Works,
F. l.. Bourquin and Harry Heltzman. had
a narrow escape from death at the COM
pany's works, three miles west of the
city, yesterday morning. One Of them
was whirled aroung revolving shaft I'M
til his clothing was tern in shreds. One
leg was broken in two places and he
dropped from the shaft Bleeding from
cuts and bruises on every part of his body.
According 10 the story told by the Off
GERS of the company no one saw the ac-
cident. The shaft which operates the
various separate pieces of machinery
used In the works runs along under the
arched roof of the shed. a scaffo.ding
running beside it for the convenience of
the operatives who inspect it or attach
the belts.
The shaft was revolving at a compare
lively low rate of speed, possibly 40 rev.
olutions TO the minute. The men had been
sent up on the scaffoding to oil the ma
chinery and were engaged in this work, or
In some repairing that grew out of it,
when the accident occurred. 1t is sup
posed they both had their backs to the
shaft. Projecting from it near the point
at Whlcn they We're standing was what
IS known as set screw and Bourquin
went incautiously near to this. AS the
smart revolved the projecting head of the
screw caught his coat about the middle
OF his back. He was whirled around and
around the shaft, his head and other por-
tons of his body coming into frequent
contact with the scaffolding and the nil
lars upon which it is supported. Heitz-
man was standing near and received sew
eral blows from Bourquins feet as the
body of the man revo we'd around the shaft.
Heitzman was knocked against a ladder
leading up to the scaffolding, where he
| remained a few minutes, clutching il
frantically, and then slipped to the ground.
AS he reached the floor he tottered and
FELL unconscious
In the meantime the shaft had been
making plaything of Bourouin. The
mead of the set screw was firmly caught
IN his coat and the shaft continued TO re-
VolYe, beating him against the sides Of the
scaf1ofding with each revolution, until the
mans clothes had been torn from his
body. All that remained was a shoe and
one sleeve of his shirt
When there was nothing left in which
the head of the screw could catch the
shaft threw Bourquin, with tremendous
force, away from it. He was found and
picked DV of ha Ioar
and carried 10 the lower floor 1t was
seen that he was seriously injured and
the police ambulance was teephoned for
at once. When it came he was placed in
1t and conveyed to the Savannah Hospital
where he was attended by Dr. Howkfns
sent by the company to look after its in
jured employe.
Heitzman was carried to his home in a
cab His injuries are not serious con-
sising principally of slight cuts and
bruises and the after-effects Of the shock
he received 1t is expected that a few
days will see him completely recovered
with Bourquin the case Is different. His
left leg is broken in two places and he
has cuts in his head and on his body that
made him for time a dreadful sight to
look at. Completely naked, wounded and
bleeding and in terrific agony, the man
was in condition truly pitiable. At the
hospital it was announced that his wounds
while serious, were not esteemed danger
Gus, and that Bourquin was resting easily
and quietly and would ultimately recover
There seems to be no way of determin-
ing the exact cause of the accident, until
The men recover the effects Of the shock
and are able themselves to describe it in
diligently. Il can be understood readily
that the shock to both of them was ter
rible in its effects and that it has served
to duh their intellects TO such a degree
that they are unable to describe the events
Immediately preceding their contact with
the shaft.
The company did all hat 1t could for it's
wounded emp Dyes. Medical attention was
furnished promptly and they We're denied
nothing that ecu add in any way to their
comfort 1t is said that both men were
skilled machiuists and familiar with the
dangers of the occupation n which they
were engaged. To the uninida,ed mind il
would seem that they should have been
more careful in approaching the shaft and
not have suffered their bodies to come in
ol- Sc contact with an iuauinaie execution
er, that but awaited an opportunity 70 get
them In lis clutches ard grind tn ir bod
les 10 mincemeat against he heavy tim
les that run along by it's sides
Forty years ago 1t was in its infancy
To-day it is a household word Cooks I'm