Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1906-05-25
BLACKSMITH'S
BAD INJURY

P. NJ. Kerns, the we'll known black
smith. met with an accident Tues
day, in which he sustained fracture
of the jaw. The injury affords an in
stance of the irony of fate, as the ac-
cident was sustained while manipulate
ing an invention for shoeing treacher-
Gus horses, the very purpose of which
was to protect the blacksmith from in
jury. The accident, however, was no
fault of the invention, but, as will be
seen, was due to an unforeseen cir
cumstance.
Ordinarily, the process of horseshoe
ing at the present day goes ON about
the same as when old men were boys !;
the blacksmith, taking horses as they
come, unfiinchingly walks up to the
fidgety and nervous steed, takes up the
animals leg and-either succeeds in
shoeing him or takes header across
the shop, propelled by the horses hind
leg.
P. M. Kerns' blacksmith shop on
Northumberland street seems to be the
only one in which is installed stocks,
a modern invention to assist in shoe
ing horses disposed to kick or which
are otherwise apt to prove trouble
some while in the blacksmith's S hands
assembled to witness the shoeing of q
large stallion.
The horse, a noble animal, weighing
1450 pounds and belonging to Joseph
Kimbel, positively refused to submit
to shoeing in the ordinary way and it
was decided to place him in the stocks.
The unsuspecting horse was led i'll
to position and two heavy we'll braced
beams, fastened to the wall in front of
the animal, and swinging ON hinges
were brought together one on each
side and locked together behind him
enclosing the horse securely as in
shafts. A wide girth was placed un-
der the animal two heavy ropes, one
taking the place of the breech band
and the other the breast strap, were
placed in position. All that remained
was to apply lever, which gave suffi-
cient purchase to raise the horse from
his feet and hold him so tight that to
struggle would be futile.
The change that came over the OBJ
streperous horse was remarkable in
deed. A restless and dangerous animal
moment before that resisted the
blacksmith at every turn he now half
hung and half stood helpless and ap-
parently willing to submit to any
thing.
An attachment in the form of an
iron arm by means of a crank was next
swung around and manipulated so as
to lock the horse's leg. enclosing it at
the fetlock, and stretching it out in
proper position for shoeing. Up to
this stage the horse shoer was enabled
to keep at perfectly safe distance.
All danger, now removed he success
fully pared down the hoof and nailed
on the shoe. The attachment for hold
ing the leg was next adjusted on the
other side and the horses leg was Sc
cured. Mr.. Kerns himself hadIhold of
the bar and was adjusting it so as to
bring the annals leg in the proper
position for shoeing, when in an unfor-
tunate moment, while the bar was not
securely held by the key, the stallion
attempted to kick, throwing the top
of the bar violently outward striking
Mr.. Kerns on the right jaw.
The man reeled under the terrible
blow and moment later it was ascer-
tanned that his jaw was broken. Mr..
Kerns was taken to the office of Dr.
Stock, where he received surgical aid,
after which he was removed to his
home on Nassau street. Mr.. Kern had
his leg broken few years ago while
attempting to shoe a treacherous horse.
1t seems too bad, indeed, that he should
sustain second injury, especially
while taking every precaution to avoid
accident. He will no doubt be incap-
acitated for business for some time.