The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-03-14
William McKane Pulled into
Shafting While Splic-
ing a Rope
ACCIDENT OCCURRED
AT JONES BROS PLANT
Body Was Lashed to Shaft
ing by Rope He Had
Been Working On

William McKane, derriclIman EN-
ployed at the manufacturing plant Of
Jones Brothers company, at the north
end of the city, was instantly killed by
being whirled around rapidly revolving
shaft while in the act of splicing a rope
with fellow workman yesterday after
noon. The accident happened shortly
after 3 o'clock and it was some time
after before the body, which was wound
closely to the shaft, could be extricated
Mr.. McKane was a faithful employe and
among large circle of friends was very
highly esteemed and his untimely death
comes as a heavy blow to his young wife
with two children, his parents and rela-
tiyes and those who knew him generally.
Mr.. McKane's position was that Of
crane or derrickman, running one of the
large travelling cranes which are pro-
PEELED by ropes on tracks high above the
heads of the workmen, He, with Victor
Beaulac, whose duty it was to follow
the hook" for Mckanes derrick, had
just renewed the hemp rope running
through the shed ready to make the
splice. The rope is of three strands and
for distance OF eight feet from their
end, the strands were mravelled for
splicing properly. The men were stand
ing on the track facing each other, Beau
lac having his end Of the rope under his
right arm, which was on the shed side,
while Mckane also had his end under his
right arm but next the wall, that is he
was inside the rope. Directly beneath
the men was a shafting that runs the
lathes and boring machines This was
revolving at the rate of l40 revolutions
per minute. The accident happened at
a place where a heavy beam, supporting
the shed, and a journal box encasing the
shafting are close together.
Without warning, the loose ends that
were hanging were caught up by the
rapidly revolving shafting and as the
rope was wound around the shaft the
tension pulled it from Beaulac's hold and
threw him towards the wall, where he
was when workmen came to the scene.
McIlane being inside the rope, it pulled
him down onto the shafting and he was
wound around securely, being held there
by the rope and in this position he was
whirled around until the engineer stopped
the machinery, which was done with all
haste. The body was terribly mutilated,
and Health Officer Sticllney and DR..
Woodruff, who answered Immediately
the emergency call, pronounced death as
instantaneous Permission was given by
DR.. Stickney to remove the body to an
undertaking establishment. Glenn Perry,
of the firm of Perry & Noonan, with
Robert Jones, manager of the plant, and
c. T.. Foley with difficulty cut down the
body and it was removed to the under
taking rooms of the above firm to await
funeral arrangements.
II is said that these ropes have been
spliced in like manner on several occa-
sions, although it is held that the loose
ends instead Of being allowed to hang
down where they were liable to become
entangled with the whrling shaft were
suspended on the side towards the wall
of the shed, this allowing freedom from
danger while the work was being done.
McKane had been in the employ Of
Jones Brothers for over eight years, and
bv employers and fellow workmen was
considered exceptionally bright and could
turn his hand to do many jobs about the
machinery, being a handy man, especial
w when il came to knots or splices.
Beaulae complained of a pain in his
ankle and upon examination the ankle
was found to be slightly sprained,
though he was able to walk about. lie
was considerably frightened and it was
his cries which first attracted the atten
. [ 1 vyFhnT no m faraB
the shed on hearing blast from the
plant whistle for the power to be shut
off. Only the machinery section was
working at the time and after the acct
dent workmen were quick to seize their
dinner pals and hurry home, loathe to
look on the gruesome sight.
! William Mckane was born in Mine
vile, n. Y, Feb IL, 1898, where he re-
sided until l6 years of age, at which
time he went to Lawrence, Mass, where
he was employed for about three years.
He then moved to this city and had re-
| sided here ever since. lie was an es-
teemed member of the Knights of Co
lumbus, Eagles, Foresters and G. G.. l. A.
! He was young man of quiet demeanor
and exemplary habits and had host of
| friends among the young people of this
city.
Besides his wife and two children,
Robert l.. and Alice NJ, aged seven
months and three years, respectively, he
leaves his parents, Mr.. and Mrs, William
McKane of Websterville; three brothers,
James A. Of this city, Arthur Of Web
sterville, and George who is serving in
the U. S. army in France; and a sister,
| Mrs. William McCready Of this city.
The funeral will be held at st, Mou-
ica's church Sunday morning at o'clock,
and interment viii be in the Catholic
cemetery.