Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-07-18
NEWS HAPPENINGS
ABOUT NEW Castle
H. F. McFarlan Has Close
Call From Death in
Steel Plant
COUNCIL WILL PUT
STREETS IN ORDER

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL
NEW CASTLE, Del, July 18Th. f.
Mcfarlan, an employee of the Deem
er Steel Castings Company, yesterday
afternoon escaped death in one Of the
most thrilling accidents which ever nap
pened in the local steel industry. That
he was not instantly killed is the
marvel of the employees of the shop.
Soon after dinner the power-in the shop
was shut oh and soon afterwards Mo
Farlan pokcd his head in between the
spokes OF the big electrically-coutrolled
fiywheel for the purpose Of throwing the
clutch. Before he could pull his head
out some one signalled the engineer TO
turn on the power. and in an instant
the big hywhcel had started its revolu-
tions. McFarlan was caught in the
wheel in such a manner that he was
carried twice around the orbit of the
wheel and then thrown out TO one side.
Horrifed employees rushed TO his side, ex-
pecting TO lind the man dead, but 20
their amazement he was not even un-
conscious Hurried calls had been sent
70 Or. Julius Dodd. and when he ar
rived he found that the only injuries
McFarlan had suffered were few
decorations 20 his scalp. Or, Dodd said
last night that he could not understand
how McFarlan escaped death. II was
not necessary for the workman to put
his head between the spokes of the
wheel TO release the clutch as 10 can be
done bv simply reaching between the
spokes of the fy wheel with the hand.
Older residents Of this city are mourn
ing the death. at Fredericksburg, Va.
Monday evening. Of Lieutenant Com
mandor Isaac Stockton Keith Reeves,
l.. s n. retired in the sixty seventh
wear Of his life, following a long illness.
Lieutenant Commander Reeves was FOR
many years n resident Of this city, and
Is the only brother of Mrs. John H..
Rodney. and an uncle of Former Mayor
Richard S. Rodney. Besides these he Is
survived by four children, Dr. ]. S. n.
Reeves. L. s. N; Mrs. Sidney Scott Of
Fredericksburg; Joseph Reeves, and a
daughter, Johanna.
Commander Reeves was born in Old
Point Comfort, Va, July 26. 1850, the
son Of Captain J. S r. Reeves. First
Artillery L. S. A. and Annie Dorsey
Read Reeves, and grandson Of George
Read. 3rd., one time United States
district attorney. His boyhood and young
manhood were spent in New Castle until
college days. After his graduation from
Cornell University he Joined the United
States Navy and by dint of hard work
became a lieutenant commander. During
the Spanish American war he served on
the old ram Kathadin in the waters
about the Philippine Islands. Follow
ing his retirement from the navy he was
appointed to a position with the Federal
fsh commission. which place he held for
.omc years retiring recently on account
Of in health. lie was buried in Wash
ington. d. G., this afternoon.
Exaspcrated az the continued delay
of tho local water company in patching
ND the streets on which it had dug holes
in connection with the fixing Of water
mains. members of the Council have
taken the "bull by the horns and yes
terday served notice on the officials of
the company that tho city will not wait
any longer for tho company TO repair
tho streets but that Council will do the
work and charge the bill to the COM
many. Council has ordered the tarvih
and other materials and AZ soon as
thcts arrive will go ahead and put the
dug up streets in good condition. Presi-
dent J. T. Stops, Of the Council stated
Yesterday that the company, when IL got
permission 70 dig up the streets,
guaranteed 70 put the streets so dug
M in good condition. He has several
times notified the company Go make
these street repairs, but without getting
results
The heavy rains Of the past week
have played havoc with the roads lead
ing into this city. especially in the
vicinity Of Bear Station and the result
is that George Burris supervisor, has
had 70 put on an extra force Of men Ia
get the roads in any kind Of condition
Yesterday he had a large force Of mel
working at Bear station where there
was an unusually bad washout on th'
road.
The life Of city councilman is any
thing but pleasant these days with IN
citizens constantly complaining ahou
the condition Of the water and the lac
Of an adequate supply. The water com
pany's defense is that IL cannot get IN
men to clean out the tanks and basini
but councilmen think that there
another reason. The water continue
muddy and housewives are complaining
The company has drilled three wells bu
has struck quick sand in every one ,
them. Their present wells, according (
members Of the Council, are not suff
cient to furnish enough water for N
city. Before taking action against III
company the Council is waiting for III
State officials to make a test Of III
water.
John Cassidy. a Negro workman az th
Baldt Steel Plant who yesterday nom
ing belahored Frank De Carlo over IN
head with bar Of steel. was committe
70 the workhouse in default of Sl.OO
hail by Mayor Lavender 70 await En-
outcome Of his victims injuries tn
Italian suffered a fractured skull Ac
cording to the testimony az the hearing
Cassidy hit De Carlo such n blow tina
he knocked the man out Of a larg
freight car and some distance beyond.
did the old Council put its foot il
t. in the matter Of the city lighting
contract with the local water com