Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-07-21
BALANCE WHEEL BURST
AND SERIOUSLY INJURED EN-
GlNEER r. D. WELD.

Accident TO estey Steamer Wednesday
Evening Near Corner Of Main and
High Streets-Engine Was Run
ming at Top Speed.
Fred u. Weld, engineer In the local
lire department. Is at the Brattleboro
] Memorial hospital In a serious condi-
/ tiun as the result of an accident 10
the Estey steamer, recently bought by
the village. which took place shortly
after 6 o'clock Wednesday evening
near the corner of Main and High
streets While testing the steamer
one of It's balance wheels burst ana
struck Mr.. Weld I'm the head. knock
ing him senseless and throwing him
against the running gear with such
force as To fracture his right forearm
and cut "A severe cash In one ear He
was taken at once to the hospital ana
given every attention possible. but his
condition is such as 10 make the re-
suits OF his injuries doubtful for sew
eral days.
The steamer was taken TO the res
ervoir near the corner OF Main ana
High streets for the purpose of test
ing II and giving Chester Sargent, one
of the other engineers. chance 10
learn its manipulation as Mr.. Weid
was planning to begin weeks va
cation yesterday morning. When the
engine was started the suction valves
failed TO work properly. and Mr.. Weld
ran 1t To its highest speed in an ef-
fort to start the pump. The speed of
the engine without any water press
ure against IL was so great that IL
shook the whole machine but II SEEM
ed to have no effect In starting the
suction. Mr. Weld. who stood inside
the wheels at the right side of the
steamer as ii faced Main street. had
raced the engine several times ana
was doing so again when the balance
wheel next to him broke suddenly. The
rim, which weighs about 40 pounds.
struck him under the left ear and
threw him against the tire of the
front wheel where he lay for mo-
ment and then sank to the ground.
The spokes of the wheel were broken
out and flew in every direction but
fortunately did no damage.
A number of people We're on the
sidewalk at the time and as soon as
the accident happened somebody stop
ped the engine. Chief Engineer Har-
vey w. Sanders and w. A. Gilbert
stood near the front wheel Just back
of Mr.. Weld and We're watching the
pened, With the assistance of sew
eral others they lifted the injured man
from beneath the steamer and carried
him to Mrs. Hookers lawn. He was
bleeding profusely from the wound in
his ear and at first was wholly uncon-
scious but later rallied for a few sec
onds and spoke few words To those
about him. Medical aid was at once
summoned, and Mr.. Weld was placed
on a mattress in one of the American
express company's wagons and taken
to the hospital. He was delirious all
Wednesay night and in seml-coma-
tose condition all day yesterday.
whether the blow at the base OF his
skull caused a fracture cannot be told
vet but such is not thought to be the
case. In addition to other injuries Mr..
Weld sustained several bruises on the
left side of his chest supposed to be
caused by a glancing blow from the
rim of the balance wheel.
Just what caused the accident VIII
probably never be known. Evident
iy the balance wheel broke short OIL
from it's hub for none of the spokes
were left. The crank shaft on the
right side is bent as is also the eccen-
trio rod connecting with it. and one
of the spokes on the left-hand balance
wheel is lightly cracked. Some peo-
pie are of the opinion that the steel
on the hub of the broken wheel shows
signs of flaws, but others say that no
flaws are apparent. one theory Is
that the spokes of the wheel broke
under the strain, while another Is that
the swaying of sthe engine body bent
the eccentric rod and thus caused the
accident.
The Estey steamer was built for ex-
hibition at the Centennial exposition
in 1876 and won the gold medal there
1t was then bought by the late l.. X.
Fuller for the Estey organ company
and had remained in possession OF that
firm until this spring when II was
purchased by the village for s2,oUo.
The steamer had never been gwen
any hard usage but it had rendered
valuable assistance to the local de-
partment on numerous occasions ana
was supposed to be practically as good
as new 1t was given a thorough eX-
animation and tested thoroughly be-
fore being bought by the village.
Mr.. Yields condition this morning
is more comfortable and his recovery
is expected by his physicians, al
though he will not be out of danger
for several days yet An expert from
the American Fire Engine company
of Seneca Falls. n. Y, will come To
Brattleboro to-day for the purpose OF
making a thorough examination OF
the steamer and ascertaining If possl-
Of ha accident