Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-07-21
FLY WHEEL BROKE
F. D. Weld Injured by Pieces
Which Struck Head and Body
Taken to 5rattIeboro Memorial Hospital
Skull Probably Not Fractured, Right
Arm Broken.

Skull Probably Not Fractured, Right
Arm Broken.
Engineer Fred d. Weld, of the fire de-
partment, was very seriously, but broba-
bly, not fatally, injured Wednesday even
ing Whine testing the steamer which the
village bought of the Estey Organ COM
pany at the last village meeting. The fly
wheel on the right side of the steamer
weighing about 40 pounds, broke from
the hub and struck Mr. Weld on the left
side, over the heart, the upper portion
Of the rim striking him under the left
ear and making a bad wound. Had he
received the full force of the blow under
the ear doubtless he would have been
killed instantly The blow knocked him
against the front wheel Of the steamer
with great force. The rough edge of the
tire OF the steamer wheel cut through his
right ear and his scalp, making an ugly
looking wound, from which blood flowed
profusely. His right forearm was broken,
but just how that was done is not known.
He also received a scalp wound on the top
of his head.
steamer house just before o'clock and
was stationed on High street, near Main,
close by the reservoir on the north side of
the street 1t was in charge Of Engineer
Weld, Chester w. Sargent, John W. Howe
and Arthur Horton. The feed pipe was
turned on about 6.1O o'clock The suction
failed to work. and the steamer was
primed with a pail of water. Still the
steamer failed to take water, and
Engineer Weld ran the engine at high
speed in an effort to draw water into the
hose. Several times he shut the steam
nearly off and then turnsi it on quickly to
create vacuum suddenly in the vacuum
chamber. Six or eight times, possibly
more, this operation was repeated, when
suddenly, about 615 o'clock, the fly wheel
broke, with the result stated. Some
one shut of the steam and Mr.. Sargent
at once drew the fire.
Just what caused the accident is not
known, but the appearances indicate that
starting the engine so suddenly was too
great a strain on the fly wheel and that
the arbor and hub twisted the spokes out.
There were five spokes in the wheel and
each was broken near the hub and near
the rim, but the rim was not broken. The
spokes flew in all directions, one striking
near the American express office across
the street. The engine was under steam
pressure of rs pounds. Chief Engineer
II. w. Sanders and W. A. Gilbert were
standing in the road close beside Mr..
Weld when the fly wheel broke, and all
three were looking at the water pressure
indicator. Mr.. Weld fell forward against
the machine and sank down unconscious.
He was laid on the lawn near by and DR..
Anderson was summoned from tne BrOOkS
House. A cot bed was procured from
the Brooks House and Mr.. Weld was laid
upon 1t and taken to the Brattleboro
Memorial hospital in one of the American
express wagons. He was semi-consciouS
at that time
1t was thought during Wednesday night
that Mr.. Yields chances of recovery were
not more than even, but on yesterday
morning DR.. Anderson expressed the be-
lief that he would recover. 1t cannot be
told positively at present whether there
is a fracture at the base of the brain,
but there are no outward indications Of
it. Capt. Weld and family were intending
to go to Block Island yesterday.
After the steamer was returned to the
steamer house crack was discovered in
one of the spokes in the fly wheel on the
opposite side of the steamer. 1t is be-
lieved that this crack was caused by the
accident The arbor and eccentric rod
were badly bent
The Estey steamer was sold to the viii
lage for $4,000 at the May meeting, the
Estey Organ company having decided to
put in a new system of fire protection.
1t was put in first class repair and after
wards given a thorough testing at the
brook near the Frost meadow and was ac-
cepted by the bailiffs. 1t has done ex-
cellent service and previously has taken
water all right. Why it did not take
water this time is not known. The run
ming gear was built for exhibition at the
centennial in Philadelphia, winning the
gold medal, but the boiler has since been
replaced by a new one.
Capt Weld was commander of Fuller
| Battery several years when it was at
tached to the Vermont National Guard.
He succeeded the late Gov. Fuller at the
head of the organization after serving
long term as first lieutenant
DR.. Hamilton, Mr.. Yields family physi-
clan, states this morning that Mr. Weld
is brighter and more rational, but that he
will not be out Of danger for several
| days.