Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-04-19
AROUND SHAFT.
Young Alfred Marcus
Arm Torn from Body.
Caught by Belt Playing at Mer-
rilI, RunneIs & Maye's Mill.
otherwise injured, Perhaps Fatally
Only Himself at Fault.

One of the saddest and most pathetic
acciaehts which has stirred the people
or this city for several years. happened
10 Aired MarcOu. the 1S-year-old son
of MI and Mrs. Alfred Marcou. Tues
uaS afternoon. and. rs result the lit
lie fellow is hanging between life ana
"eath with severed Fight arm and a
lascarated shoulder.
While Master Alfred in company with
jules Nisue were playing about the
sh1ft which connects The grist mill of
the Merrill Runnels & Mayo Co. with
ITS source Of power the No. 3 station
Of the Waterville & Fairfield Power Co.
the boys conceived the idea of setting
the wheel of grind stone in motion by
means Of belt which WAS used by the
w1rkmen to connect thu grinding an
paratus with ar improvised pulley on
the shaft. The belt was somewhat slack
to permit Of an easy communication
but was safe, nevertheless for use only
by men of experience.
The boy attempted to adjust the belt
or the shaft and. after repeated trials
was successful. On attempting to re-
move it, however, his arm in some wav
became caught in the loose belt. was
carried at once between the belt and
the pulley of the shaft. 1t is stated
that the shaft revoIv"s at the possible
rate "f 100 revolutions per minute.
The boy was hurled around the shaft
three times before the arm was detach-
cd. Before his playmate had barely time
to realize what had happened. The arm
had been twisted in to and thrown
against an oil barrel which lay abou,
IA feet away. The body Of the boy had
been thrown in n nearly opposite direc-
tion 70, nearly 6 feet. Why it was that
the little fellow was not rendered inscn-
sible. or at least. helplnssiy dazed. is Il
mystery to all who We're acquainted
with the facts.
Incredible as it may Seem. he ran up
two flights Of stairs blool squirting from
his torn sleeve and cam to view on the
street above in this critical condition
One Of the city's milkmen. George
Patterson. who was coming out of the
mill at this time. instantly realizing
the situation. seized the boy firmly by
TIE remaining stub of his arm and. no
doubt, prevented fatal escape Of
blood.
z. s Merrill was Immediately sum-
'ooned by telnphone and soon arrived.
He then called for the assistance OF Drs
Roger and RancOurt. Ether was admin
istercd and about four hours work was
necessary to remove the remainder OF
the limb
Whether or not the accident VIII
prove fatal remains for the next few
hours or IDsSibly dayS. to determine.
Had th- wound been Il more cut or less
la.."erating. the matter of the boys
ultimate recovery would b. more prom
sing 1t was found thai the wound. to
4 large extent. must he closed with ar
tificial covering. as thu skin. hanging
as IL was i'm shredS was not sufficient
to cover the gap. The doctors admir-
that the chances Of recovery are in
Iced doubtful.
There seems to he no disposition on
the Fart Of the publi' TO critisiZe any
negligence which might. st first read
ing. be attributed 10 tn" operators OF
the mill. by those unacHuainted with
the crpnr and circumstances OF the ac-
cidt.nt The shaft which did the deadly
work was considered at perfectly
safe distance from any human contact.
unless n person took especial pains to
reach the. same Coming from the pow
er house and entering 'he mill, il pass
es rrdtr fight of stairs and is not
easily discernable TO n stranger, pass
ing M, or down.