Fruits - James
JAMES FRUITS
Source: Crawfordsville Journal Saturday, February 25, 1888
A horrible accident occured at the saw mill of Michael Fruits two miles north of Alamo at 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon. The boiler of the large engine exploded, tearing its way through the side of the building and was carried a hundred feet from where it stood, landing in a spring branch. James Fruits, son of the proprietor, was operating the engine when the explosion occured and he was badly mangled and scalded, living only a slight time afterwards. Paul Larsh was operating the edging machine and had been called to run the saw, during the short absence of the head sawer and thus saved his life at the machine at which he had been at work was thrown quite a distance outside the mill. No cause is known for the explosion as there was plenty of water in the boiler and it can only be accounted for on the theory of the high pressure. The departed was a highly respected citizen of the Ripley township and leaves a wife and three children. The funeral took place Sunday afternoon and was very highly attended. The interment took place at the Yountsville Cemetery. - kbz