The Whitefish pilot., 1912-07-11

"s@' ~ R~SACASCS VIII any OI Tue OIn-
er inmates who are, awkward thru,
loss of limbs. He thinks that they
should devise contrivances to re-
lieve their 'awkwardness.
The fact that arouses amazemeAt
is how man without hands can col-
struct such perfect machines. All et
his work issdons BY means of hool
on one arm andsa ,liAkas haraees like
attachment. ON the other.
His. left hand is cut off at the
wrist. A cap was made to fit over
the wrist ana In the end Of this he
has q coupling AaAtacAmen4 made in
a manner that will receive almost
any kind of an article that the old
fireman may wish to insert. The
most common. aFticle used is q COM
mon hook. With this hook he il
able to do many things that would
bother a man, with hands,
The right hand was. ampntated in
such manner that the thumb Il
the only portion left. The leather
harness and the steel blade on this
hand enables him to grasp and hold
all ordinary articles. It Is amusing
to see him pick a match CT a tooth
pick out OF his pocket.
He dresses himself by inserting q
button hook In his left hand harness
while q knife or fork may be insert
ed for convenience in eating. He
finds little trouble in grasping all
kinds of tools, and can even use q
plane or saw. The machines that he
manufacture are CT widely varied
design. no two being made quite
alike. Some engines he makes with
double or triple parts. while 9TH
ers will be merely single. One Of
the most interesting facts is that he
gathers material for these engines
and machinery from all kinds Of odds
and ends he finds lying about. A
little wheel or piece Of sheet iron
or a piece Of steel rod Is 1t once
by him, and finds
lodging place In one Of his pockets.
When the mood strikes him he
works away at it to make it the
proper shape. Time is no object to
him. He has the patience Of Job,
and will sometimes work at a small
part for a week to get it perfect. As
he is not able to rivet things to-
gether he fastens them with solder.
All his engines wiN run under a
light pressure of steam. He does
this work just to keep his mind oc-
cupied, he says. and 1t makes the
time pass pleasanter than II he sat
and brooded over his mis-
fortune.
The date of Bellaire's accident
was Feb. Z. 1883, It happened at
Hancock. Minn.. For some time he
had been employed as q fireman by
the Great Northern. 1t was one of
the old-style locomotives, and to
clean the ash pan It was necessary
to crawl underneath. The accident
happened after big storm. Before
crawling under the engine Belfaire
told his engineer to be careful net
to start the engine. About this time
the brakeman came along and un-
coupled the engine, giving the en-
gineer the signal to go ahead. With
out thinking Of his fireman the en-
gineer started. Bellaire underneath.
seeing his peril. tried to throw him
self out between the drivers. but.
did not quite clear the distance and
his hands were caught under the
wheels and crushed.
In 1896 he went to the Railroad
Mems home at Highland park. where
he has been since. but likes to get,
out and roam around, 80 every once
in while he takes a trip across
the country and visits with the vari-
ous lodges. doing a little missionary
work for the good Of the order
wherever he goes.
He Is Of very happy disposition.
and makes friends with everyone
whom he meets. He Is member
Of Baraboo (Wfs.) lodge No. IS, To
which Fireman c., w. Wilkinson be-
longs. and he took great pleasure
In showing the old gentleman about,
our city and introducing him to his
Mr.. Bellaire attended a meeting Of
the B. OF L. F. and e. Saturday aft
ernoon.an gave, the boys very In.
terestine talk. He left Sunday morn-
Ing on No. 4"for Havre.