The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-05-10
HOW BROWN WAS HURT.
Injured While Saving City of Salt
Lake From Property Loss.


To the Salt Lake Herald:
With reference to the (seemingly) de-
termination of Mayor Ezra Thompson to
Dust s. f. Brown from his position as
tankman in Parley's canyon, there are d
Few facts associated with the case that
the public ought TO be made acquainted
Early in June, 1900. Mr. Brown discov-
cred that water was seeping under
hume that carries large volume OF water
west and south of the reservoir, and he
was in the act of piling dirt a portion
OF the flume that was boarded over, >
mold IL down, when the accident happened
that rendered Mr.. Brown a cripple for
NE. He was in the water with rubber
winch turned suddenly and Mr.. Brown
was precipitated into the fume. The
rushing waters swept him down with
struck the cross beams of the flUme with
killed outright.
He tried to save himself by seizing one
or the beams and in doing so his left arm
was Jerked out of joint at the shoulder.
rocks at the end of the flume and, stun
NED and bleeding, he floated to the edge
% me suean, Where ne managed 10 hoIu
on 10 willow. 1t was nearly half an
hour before he was able TO drag himself
to land and make his way home
Mrs. Brown at once telephOned to the
city for physicians and DR.. Pratt and
subsequently, DR.. Z. F. Root and the late
DR.. j. S. Witcher were called for and
that Browns left arm was dislocated at
the shoulder and that almost his entire
BODY was bruised and cut. For this in
jury the city gave Brown the sum OF $50
which he paid to Drs. Root and Witcher.
able to attend to the work devolving upon
him. and he would have been forced 10
! leave the place but for his wife, who did
practically all the work. This happened
about seven years ago and even now
Brown is unable to use his injured arm
in doing any labor.
| Some time ago Dr. Root made an X-ray
examination of the arm and shoulder and
found that the muscles had shrunken and
/ that portion was paralyzed. Even at
this time Brown is assisted in his work
by Mrs. Brown.
| 1 mention these facts because some one
VINO Is anxious TO see cripple deprived
of the means of attaining his daily bread.
/ has started the silly, yet cowardly report
that Brown was not injured while work
ing for the city, but was hurt down town
/ while intoxicated. The fact that the acct
dent happened about o'clock in the
morning and that his drenched clothing
and numbed condition were in evidence
/ when the physicians arrived, and the fur
work ON the flume were in plain sight,
! should be complete refutation of the un-
warranted charge. The city papers gave
particulars of the occurrence at the time.
During Mayor Thompson's first term as
the chief executive of the city, he visited
/ the scene of the accident in company with
! Superintendent Frank L. Hines BY rea-
/ son of Browns serious injuries, and the
/ fact that he filed no suit against the city,
! throughout Mayor Thompson's two terms
and during the Morris administration 7 n
der the latter, Brown was reappointed to
! the place. and the appointment was con-
4 firmed by the council
At the beginning of the present admin
/ istration Mayor Ezra Thompson prom
/ ised to retain Brown The waterwOrks
committee considered the matter and il
was agreed that the place should not be
/ interfered with. Now a great many citi-
zens are asking why such strenuous ef-
/ forts are being made to deprive a cripple
f,f- hun r16 oir n
annum Job.
! 1t is possible that there are men in Salt
| Lake City who. for the purpose of paying
I a political debt. or to seek revenge for
some fancied wrong would stoOp to sat
! isfy such desires by such unworthy meth
ods2 VIII it rebound to the credit of the
/ American party to discharge Brown
Can any real good come OF such unfair
ness and base ingratitude toward a man
1 who has been faithful in the performance
/ Of his duty to the city for many years?
That the city is under moral obligation
/ TO keep Brown in his position there can
/ be no doubt Is that obliga ton to be com
/ pletely ignored? CENTENNIUS.
Salt Lake. May 9.