Payette County ID Archives News.....Serious Accident Occurs at Feed Mill (Fletcher) December 20, 1917
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/id/idfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Cheryl Hanson ihansonb@fmtc.com April 27, 2006, 4:28 pm

Payette Enterprise December 20, 1917
Payette Enterprise
Payette, Idaho
Thursday, December 20, 1917
 
SERIOUS ACCIDENT OCCURS AT FEED MILL
 
ED FLETCHER GETS HAND CAUGHT IN FEED GRINDER, AMPUTATED AT WRIST -- EARL 
CHRISTIAN BREAKS SEVERAL BONES IN HIS HAND
 
Ed Fletcher, who lives just north of town, met with a serious accident 
yesterday afternoon shortly after dinner while working at the Feed Mill which 
resulted in the loss of his left hand, and only for the presence of mind and 
quick action on the part of Earl Christian, would have lost his entire arm or 
perhaps his life.  Mr. Fletcher was working at the feed grinder and in some 
manner got his left hand caught between the large steel rods where the grain 
is ground, and before the machinery could be stopped, the hand was ground in 
fragments to the wrist.  Earl Christian, who is in charge of the Mill, was 
standing nearby and came quickly to his assistance, while another helper ran 
to shut off the power.  Mr. Christian's first thought was to throw off the 
large belt which operated the machine, and in doing so received a badly cut 
arm and several broken bones in the left hand.  The belt thrown off by Mr. 
Christian is a 9-inch belt which runs very rapidly and has a duty of about 
four tons, and the only means he had of removing it was by throwing his arm 
under, near the pulley, which must be done quickly and with great danger.  
After the machinery was stopped the unfortunate man was released by turning 
the rollers backward, displaying a mass of crushed bones, strips of skin, and 
mangled flesh.  Mr. Fletcher was immediately taken in an auto to the doctor's 
office where amputation was made at the wrist.  He is resting easy and seems 
to take his misfortune cheerfully.  He was a valuable man in the employ of the 
Mill Company and his service will be hard to replace.  Mr. Christian, while 
carrying his arm in splints, is able to continue at work.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/id/payette/newspapers/seriousa532gnw.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/idfiles/

File size: 2.5 Kb