Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1906 — The Governor Balls Got Balled. [ARTICLE]

The Governor Balls Got Balled.

There was an exciting and dangerous, as well as somewhat destructive occurence at Parr, last Saturday afternoon. Thomas Fay, the ex-justice and retired blacksmitn, of that place, was operating a small mill and feed grinder, in, the same room with the blacksmith shop, which last was being used by Logan Wood, pending the time that his own recently burned shop was being rebuilt. The mill was piopelled by a portable traction engine, which was anchored outside. The mill was grinding away at a good clip, while at a short distance away, in the same room, Mr. Hines, of Rensselaer, Mr. Wood’s blacksmith, was shoeing a horse. Suddenly the governor balls of the engine got caught in some way and* would no longer control its motion. It instantly started off at a big burst of speed, and almost immediately the burrs of the mill went all to pieces, and the parts of them flew in all directions. One piece struck Mr. Fay on the leg, injuring him quite severely. Another chunk hit the owner of the horse Mr. Hines was shoeing, giving him quite a hard thump. Mr. Hines was not hit but was pretty well scared and he and the horse and its owner all went out of the door in a bunch. One large piece of «the burrs went clear through the side of the building and flew 40 or 50 feet further before it hit the ground. The wreckings of the mill will be quite a loss to Squire Fay.