The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1921-09-22
Fatal Accident--A Correct Version

The sad accident which resulted in
the death Of Benjamin f. Gaylord has
not been correctly understood and has
been misstated to some extent In the
newspapers. Mr.. Gaylord was at work
for Amos Chapman and c. L. Beck
with at home Ol the latter. formerly
the Alonzo Smith pace III tho town
of Corny.lle Mr.. l3eckNifh and Mr..
Chapman had been II work in the silo
and the filing being ilsI about com
plcted, Mr.. chapman bad descended to
the ground 10 help clean up Mr.. Cay
ford and Lester G. Stevens were feed
ing large sized Whirlwind cutter
and blower. The pipe had plugged
and stopped the carrier on the feed
table. but not the blower and the men
had d sconnected the pipe, Mr.. Cay
ford stepping up on the corner of the
machine for that purpose Mr.. Ste
vens assisted in clearing the obstruc-
ton by thrusting a pole up into the
interior and by rapping on the out
side of the pipe. The pipe had been
re-adJusted on the machine and Mr..
Stevens had STEPPED back a few feet
and Mr.. Gaylord whs about to step
down when the accident happened. A
blower of THIS character consists of
four heavy iron arms. These rotating
rapidly force the cut insilage into
the pipe followed by a heavy blast OF
air. 1t was these four iron arms which
broke away and the fragments wsfe
thrown with destructive force, break
ing through the housing and striking
Mr.. Gaylord with what proved to be
fatal effect. Pieces of these broken
arms were hurled against the build
ings and were distributed to some
extent around the field. The farthest
fragment was picked up twelve rods
from the silo. Others work ng in the
crew were Kenneth Chapman. Of Ath-
ems; Theodore Tozier, OF Cornville:
Mahlon Corson and Dennis Knights of
Athens. The four last mentioned had
just driven into the barn with the
team and had fortunately closed the
door, otherwise they must have also
been seriously injured.
Mr. Cayford's injuries included cut
completely across the forehead and a
fracture of the frontal bone which 1t
is believed ruptured blood vessel
The upper and lower lips were cut
and the nose broken. A piece OF the
metal pierced the flesh of the right arm
pit and probably penetrated the lung.
The left forearm was broken in five
different places and there were
bruises on both legs DR.. Stinchfeld
was called and the injured man was
rushed TO Kennebec hospital where his
wounds were dressed. He remained
conscious until the time of his death
at $50 Sunday morning.
Mr.. Gaylord was born in Cornville
and when young man went to North
Dakota where he was engaged in
farming. He came back here some
thing like SO years ago and has res d.
ed a part of that time in Skowhegan
village, some of the time on farm In
Cornville and lately on the George
Thompson place on the outskirts Of
the village toward Athens. He was
member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, Skowhegan Grange, Somerset
County Farm Bureau and life mem
Der of the Somerset Central Agricul-
tural Society.
Mr.. gaylord was three times mar
ried. the first time during his resi-
dence n the West and as result of
The union there was one son, Bennie
Gaylord who resides in Seattle. Wash.
His second marriage occurred after
his return to Maine to Miss Ida Serb
ner of Athens. They had three chill
dren, Miss Dorothy Gaylord of Show
hogan. Scribner of Athens and Ken
meth. who was adopted by Mr.. and
Mrs. Amos CHAPMAN and lives i'll
Athens His third marriage was to
Mrs clara White Nho survives him
IS dc three step ch ldren. Carlton
White of SkoWhegan; Elmer WHITE o.
Auburn and Mrs. Helen W. Flint Of
South Windham There are also
three brother. Maurice Gaylord Of
Skowhegan, Howard and Luther Cay
ford of Saskatchewan, Canada. and
three sisters, Mrs. Alonzo Smith OF
Skowhegan, Mrs. Caroline Burrill OF
Newton, Mass. and Mrs. Mary Thorn
dixie of Boston. Funeral services
were. held Tuesday at i o'clock from
the home apd burial was at Athens.