Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1913-05-30
SERIOUS ACCIDENTS
Three In One Day, More or
Less Dreadful

Highlands lucky star seemed to
be in eclipse last Saturday, and
three worthy laboring men were
victims of accidents, one of them
as horrible as has ever occurred in
the Monterey community.
Tom Jones, who has been in the
employ of H. P. Patterson for a
long time, was assisting in running
a wood-saw owned by Mr.. Patter-
son, and had just set the machine
to cut some wood for Sheriff Graz
ham. In attempting to oil the en-
CINE while it was in motion, Toms
loose-ftting jacket came in contact
with wedge in tbs fy-wheel and
he was throwned three times into
the air, twice being dashed against
the circular saw.
At one stroke his right leg was
severed and thrown several feet
away from the machine, while an
other revolution caught his arm,
virtually ripping flesh and bone
from wrist to shoulder. Mr.. Pat
terson had a stick of wood in hand
ready to begin work and the first
intimation he had of the accident
was a shower of flesh and blood on
his face and breast. He stopped
the engine, but not until Tom had
been released by his jacket being
torn from his body, or in some other
way, for he lay close by, stunned
and mangled, looking pitably at
his torn limbs and asking for a
physician.
There were two witnesses besides
Mr.. Patterson, but the awful work
was done so suddenly that no one
could tell just how. The clothing
on upper part of his body was torn
off and the outer garment which
caused the trouble was left tightly
wrapped about the shaft of wheel.
Mr.. Patterson ran for medical help,
and most of the men and boys IN
town who had nerve to face the
horror and suffering were on the
scene. The unfortunate victim
was taken to DR.. Trimble's Office
where, after he had rallied suffici-
emily from the shock, Doctors Fox
and Trimble rendered needed sur
gical attention. The poor fellows
shoe, with the dismembered foot
and few inches of jagged bone
and torn flesh protruding from the
top, was taken along and placed
close bv. Such scenes arc rare in
Highland, and not very many were
brave enough to look on.
The arm was patched up as only
medical skill can do such things
and it is hoped it may be saved.
The torn flesh and ragged bone of
the leg were removed, the amputa-
ton being made where it should
properly be in cases where such OPP
erations are necessary.
He stood the ordeal better than
even his physician had expected,
and about $50 was brought$o his
room at Hotel Monterey.
Tom is about % years old, son
of T. J. Jones, and is worthy,
hard working fellow. The deepest
sympathy has been shown him.
Tuesday morning he complained
of suffering and, upon examination,
his physicians found that the leg
was not progressing favorably.
Fearing another operation would
be necessary, and realizing the diff
fculty of handling so serious a case
outside hospital, a decision to re-
move the young man to Staunton
resulted and the trip was undertake
en- at II o'clock Wednesday morn
ing, Mr.. Cliff. Matthew's auto being
fitted up with a bed and Luther
Jones going along to assist DR.. Fox
in caring for the patient en- route.
&c. M. Lunsford drove the machine,
and they hoped to make the trip
in half day.
Another serious accident hefell
D. g. Ralston, Jr., and the lumLer
camps have added one more labor
er to their army of crpples. Mr..
Ralston had gone to the Back Creek
camD onlv a few days efore and