The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1910-04-21
FATHER MINUS ARMS|
Without Use Of Hands Massa-
chusetts Man Rears Family.
Still q Bread Winner at Age Of 70
About Only Things Cannot Do Are
Moving with scythe and
Milking a Cow.

ence, as we'll as a record Of human
ingenuity which could hardly be sur
passed. is furnished by a Bay state
town.
With n arm cut OF at the shout
der and the other below the elbow.
Michael Laford, a Palmer man, has
brought up a family of seven children
and supported them, although for AZ
years he has been deprived of the use
Of his hands.
Among the hundreds Of stories told
of the courage and pluck of those af-
hicted by the loss of various faculties
who have struggled gamely on, refus-
ing to give in to fate, that of Laford
Is unique.
Even for a man of perfect health
and physique, the trials and difficult
ties which Laford has fought against
all his life would be considered stu
pendous. Yet, at the age of 76. and
after a lifetime struggle, he is still
earning his bread c%heerfully, and in
fact. he did nearly half a century Ago.,
after the accident occurred which
made him a cripple for the rest of his
days.
From the moment Of Laford's birth
misfortune seemed to set upon him.
He was born in a little village a few
miles outside of Montreal. Before he
had reached the age Of two years his
mother had died. leaving him with
several other children, to the care or
neglect of friends and neighbors.
With the death of the mother the fam,
lily was broken up, and the children
were given away to whoever would
take them. Michael fell into the
hands Of a farmer, who put him to
work almost as soon as he could walk.
Up to the time he was IL years old
Laford worked as few boys ever have
to work. At IA he was used in the
woods with the men, where he put in
his ten and twelve hours a day with
a gang of loggers. Not only was the
child driven to work, but he was
beaten, improperly fed and went al
most without clothing even in the
freezing air Of a Canadian winter,
Several times he was driven out of
the camp to attend to horses in the
night and compelled to wade through
the snow In bare feet. For several
years this treatment continued, till
at last Laford made up his mind that
he would do better to strike out for
himself. Taking advantage of a dark
and stormy night he ran away, and
after weeks and months of hiding and
hunger. he fell in with a chance friend
with whom he worked his way down
across the Canadian border into New
York state.
Through his knowledge of lumber
ing he prospered. He made money
and In q few years was able to take
small numbering contracts for himself.
After a year or so of c at this
he moved to Stafford, Conn, where he
again started operations. It was here,
however, that the accident occurred
which crippled him for the rest of his
life.
Laford was working in a sawmill,
running q circular Jaw. Through the
clumsiness of one of the helpers in
working the carriage Of the big saw.
Laford was thrown against the frame.
work surrounding the whirling saw.
lost his hold on the lever Of the ma,
chine and fell straight forward on
the buzzing blur of teeth. In an in
stant the left arm was severed at the
wrist. Then. in trying to regain his
balance, he pitched forward once
more, and thus lost the other arm.
in the excitement that followed the
mill was shut down and Laford was
hurried to the hospital. In five weeks
time he was out, but for more than a
year he remained practically helpless.
Not only was it impossible for him
TO do any kind Of work, but the loss
of his arms impeded him in a thou
sand ways. It was even difficult for
him to walk about. All his sense of
balance was lost. Instead Of submit,
ting to his fate, however, Laford was
continually making plans for his self,
support.
He first got a job driving a team.
In q short time he could not only
drive q team, but could load one.
Even the heaviest logs were none too
heavy, and in six months time La
ford was back on his old job again as
a teamster, and holding his own
against the rest Of the crew. He was
at this time 45 years old, and for 20
years he was a teamster In the lum-
bering camps.
Laford has been a resident Of Pal
mer for the last twenty years, and
on his testimony there are only three
things which he cannot do:
He cannot mow with a scythe.
He cannot chop wood.
He cannot milk q COW.
Outside of these three occupations
he claims that he Is just as good q
man, even at his % years of age. al
can be found in many communities.
Laford, without hands and minus
one arm, dresses himself, feeds him,
self, lights and smokes his own pipes
and cigars. harnesses a horse and
does a thousand things that would
puzzle an outsider. In place Of the
two hands lost, Laford has developed
the use of his teeth and his toes.