A Mill Worker's Maiming at Cosmopolis
A new employee at a shingle mill is left permanently disabled after a horrific industrial accident on his first day.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
William McKay was brought to St. Joseph's hospital this morning terribly injured, as the result of accidentally falling against a saw in Blased & Co.'s shingle mill, at Cosmopolis. The cut extends from the back of McKay's head across his neck and right shoulder and arm. The bone of the upper right arm was nearly severed, necessitating its excision two inches below the shoulder joint. The operation was performed successfully by Dr. Stapp, with the assistance of Drs. Vesar and Pearson. The unfortunate man was 'flat broke' and had only commenced work in this mill about two hours previous to the accident, which will permanently deprive him of the use of his right arm. His escape from death, with the big saw working around among the large veins and arteries, was marvelous.
“The unfortunate man was 'flat broke' and had only commenced work in this mill about two hours previous to the accident.”
The precarious nature of the timber industry at the turn of the century often meant that a single slip could result in life-altering injury for those with little to no financial safety net. This stark reality of labor remains a relevant, if evolved, point of discussion in modern industrial workplace safety.
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