The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-08-24
NEAR DEATH BLAST
WILLIAM MELCHER WAS
REMOVING STUMPS
Flat Car The Cause Of Motor
Accident at Blue
Earth

Wells, August 20.-While blasting
stumps on his farm near Rice Lake
south Of town, william Melcher
narrowly escaped being blown to
pieces with dynamite. One charge
failed to fire 80 the farmer took his
ak and attempted TO chop open the
stump. The charge went on and
threw the man back with terrific
force. The stump was blown out and
the earth torn up generally. Mrs.
Melcher stepped out OF the house
just as the explosion occurred ana
saw her husband fall. On reaching
him she found his face was torn and
30 filed with splintered wood. pow
der and sand as to be unrecogniz-
able. That he was not blown 10
pieces was miracle. The ak handle
was broken in three pieces yet the
hands that held it were uninjured.
The most serious injury B to the
mans eyes. They were filed with
splinters and debris, also. 1t Is not
yet known whether the sight will be-
permanently destroyed. Both ear
drums were burst by the conclusion.
Mr.. Melcher is one of the hardest
working men In the county and has
been trying for four years to clear
out this piece Of land.
A nat car standing on the North
western railroad crossing was the
cause Of a bad motor accident at
Blue Earth early Friday morning.
Three Wells men, Peter Collias
and John Korakas, proprieters or
the Shoe Repair company in their
new Overland roadster, accompanied
by Roy Jacoby, village constable, at
the wheel, were driving home after
having attended the Historical Pag-
cant at the county seat. and ran Oh
into nat car that was standing on
the crossing. The men claim there
was no signal to warn motorists
that the way was INSTRUCTED. They
did not see the car until within a
few feet Of 1t and crashed into
with SO much force that their car
was wedged partly under the other.
Two men were injured. Korakas
was knocked unconscious but his
partner managed to get him out OF
the wreckage and laid ON the grass.
thinking all the time that he was
dead. He next helped young Jacoby
who was also injured. The men were
taken to the hospital at Blue Eartn.
Both were badly cut and bruised
and one sustained several broken
ribs. The injured men were treated
at the hospital and sent home Sat
urday. They report that the freight
train was switching in the yards
and ran the nat car down onto the
crossing without operating the gates
or leaving any kind of a signal. The
car was badly smashed up.
The Fartbault County Credit COM
pany Is being organized here, and
viii bring the benefits of the new
organization to the farmers of Fari-
bault and adjoining counties. This
organization viii take care OF the
agricultural requirements OF those
farmers who are eligible on q long
or time and at q lower rate of In
terest. The new company will have
It's principle place Of business at
Wells. and its officers are as fol-
lows: Otto P. Hoff, president; C. G.
Sherer, vice president, and e. e.
Reosler, secretary treasurer. The
organizers are r. z. Sherer, Winnie
bago; R. L. McMillin, Winnebago;
Leonard Nelson. Huntly; c. H. Drap-
er, Wells; G. G. Sherer, Winnebago:
c o. Klingbeil, Matawan; w. e.
Schmidt, Amboy; r. w. Bosch.
Amboy; c. B. Howard, Freeborn; G.
N. Anderson, Walters and Otto, p.
Hoff. Wells.
NJ. ]. Phil, a former resident vi
Wells and president of the First
National Bank at one time, is here
and Is visiting his old friends for a
few days. His present home is at
Yankton, s. Oak. While here, Mr..
Phil Is the guest of Mr.. and Mrs. e.
A. SiddaIl