Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 August 1908 — BOB WARTENA BADLY BURNED. [ARTICLE]

BOB WARTENA BADLY BURNED.

Steam Hose Breaks With Drilling (Jang and Frightfully Burns the Young Man. The first serious accident that has occurred since the work on the river commenced took place Thursday forenoon about nine o’clock on Contractor Moore’s drill boat, now working at the Stott Grant ledge west of town. Robert Wartena has been running a drill, boring holes for blasting purposes, and was at work at the time he was almost fatally burned by escaping steam. The drills are furnished steam from a boiler on the boat through a rubber hose, and 100 pounds pressure must be kept all the time to provide enough power for the drills. On the drill where Bob was working the hose became disconnected from the drill and with the heavy pressure of steam began to writhe like a wounded snake, and before he could get away the live end Of the hose had got ’ inside of hie pantaloons and the superheated, steam was burning the life out of him. In trying to escape he fell into the water at the side of the boat and no doubt this saved him from a terrible death. As it is he is badly burned from above his hips to his knees, scarcely a bit of the skin on this part of his body but is burned. When his clothing was removed after he had been pulled out of the water much of the skin came off with them, and this caused intense pain, but it is thought that he will recover if no complications set in. This was Indeed a fortunate accident, when the circumstances surrounding it are taken into consideration. i..." He was not so well yesterday, was suffering much pain but did not seem to be otherwise in worte condition than could be expected 'under the circumstances.