Watkins, JF - arm torn off
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal
Thursday, 19 March 1874
Last Saturday morning, about 8 ½ o’clock, while Mr. J. F. Watkins, one of the proprietors
of the new flouring mill, was oiling the machinery on the third floor, his left
arm was caught between two cog wheels and almost literally torn from his body.
The merciless cogs caught the arm near the wrist first, drawing it in further
and further, until the muscles of the upper arm were reached, when by a
desperate and almost superhuman effort Mr. Watkins succeeded in extricating the
arm, literally breaking the tendons and tearing out the muscles below the
shoulder. Mr. Watkins was alone, and of course can not remember, if he
comprehended at the time, the exact nature of his perilous situation. Perilous
and desperate it was, however, as every stitch of clothing—coat, vest, pants,
shirt and under clothes—was torn from his body, except his boot and socks. His
cries attracted the attention of Mr. Brown, who was working below, and who met
him at the top of the second stairway, the mangled man having released himself
and walking down one flight of stairs without assistance. Dr. McClelland and
Dr. Irwin were called, and after taking up and securing the arteries, had Mr.
W. taken to his home on West
Market Street