People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1897 — A Lamentable Accident. [ARTICLE]

A Lamentable Accident.

From Saturday’s Daily. A lamentable accident occured Friday afternoon, about 4 or 5 o’clock whereby Dick Wood, a worthy and industrious citizen of Rensselaer has suffered the loss of one of his legs. Mr. Wood is the proprietor of a steam wood sawing outfit, and was out in James Yeoman’s neighborhood, 5 miles west of town, doing some sawing for the people of that neighborhood. At the time mentioned he was up on his engine, which is the traction kind, making some adjustments, while it was running, but while the traction part was in motion. In stepping down he placed his foot on the cog wheels which drive the traction mechanism, and at the same time his hand accidently struck the lever which started the traction cog wheels. His foot was at once drawn between them, and although he himself had the presence of mind to move back the same lever, thus stopping the traction wheels, and another man re versed the engine, yet before the wheels could be stopped his leg was drawn between the cogs, nearly to the knee, grinding and crushing the bones and muscles in a terrible manner. Had it not been for the quick work in stopping the engine, he would have been killed in another second or two.Mr. Wood was taken into James Yeoman’s house and Drs. Washburn and English were sent for; and in the evening they amputated the leg, below the knee. Of course such an injury is a terrible shockto anyone’s system, and not infrequently they result in the death of the victim, but as Mr. Wood is a strong vigorous man, there is good grounds for believing that he will rally from the shock and recover. Mr. Wood has a wife and several young children depending