Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-06-13
A FEARFUL ACCIDENT.
Henry johnson Injured at Hardsoce
Mfg. Co.'s Plant Wednesday.

tFrom Wednesdays Daily.]
Henry Johnson, young man 18
years of age. an employe of the Hard
socg Manufacturing company, lies at
the city hospital, with probably fatal
injuries, the result of an accident
which occurred shortly after o'clock
this morning at the plant where he is
employed. Both of his legs and his
left arm are broken. The injured
members were all dressed, but up to a
late hour today the young man had
not rallied from the shock. His limbs
are fearfully mangled, and the attend
ing physicians believe he may be in
ternally injured. The boy was re-
moved to the Ottumwa hospital as
soon after the accident as possible,
and physicians called. How the &C.
cldent occurred is a mystery. No one
saw Johnson fall into the shafting, and
he is unable to give an intelligent ac-
count of the affair himself
Theory of Accident.
The story of the affair as near as
can be learned is that young Johnson
and Charles Eakins were engaged
in wing a belt. Johnson was
up on ladder, probably seven or
eight feet high, and directly in front
of the shafting. The belt was not in
use but simply hung over the shafting.
1t is believed Johnson had finished
sewing the belt, and that he was at
tempting to put it in place, by reach
ing out over the swiftly revolving shaft
when in some manner he became en-.
tangled. An agonizing shrek caused
the employees Of the factory to gaze up
ward, when they saw Johnson's body
beng whirled around and around the
shaft. The engineer was communicate
ed with as soon as possible and the
machinery was stopped Johnson
was tightly wound around the shaft,
and it was with some effort that he
was released His left arm had ap-
parently' become entangled first, and it
was wrapped tightly The arm was
broken in five or six places. all the
way from the wrist to the shoulder
Both legs were broken by being
thrown against an iron rod which
stands about three feet above the
shafting. The limbs were also broken
in number of places, and especially
the right leg, which was literally
mashed to pulp.
Taken to Hospital.
The patrol wagon was sent for as
soon as the boy was removed from
the shafting, and he was placed on a
stretcher and taken to the hospital
Doctors Brockman Spilman, Bannistei
and Baker were called and they at once
went to work dressing the injured
limbs. 1t was decided not to perform
an operation at present, but the limbs
we're all washed, dressed and bandag
led About one and one half inches Of
bone was removed from the left leg.
Cause Mystery.
Johnson lives on West Mill street
and has been employed by the Hard
socg company about three years. HI
has not worked steadily, however, ant
had only been at work the last time
about month, after an absence o.
nearly a year. R. p Eisenbeis, the su
perintendent of the plant states young
Johnson was one of the most reliable
employees under him, and that he wa,
always careful and could be trusted a
any length. Mr.. Eisenbeis is utterl.
at a loss to account for the accident
He said none of the employees saw tn,
accident, or know how it occurred
He said young Johnson was employed
1
chimes, and it was in putting the bel
on this machine that he was injured.
Company Closed Down.
The company closed down as sool
as the accident occurred, and did no
begin work until this afternoon. TIL,
employees of the company all speak il
the highest terms of young Johnson
and says he was hard worker. The.
say he was the principal support o
his mother. His father was kille,
about twelve years ago In the mines a
Muchakinock, his body being man
gled in nearly the same way as tn
son.
BIakesburg Boy Accidentally Shot.
Harry Anderson, ten year old la