The Peril of the 'Patent Knocker'
A rancher's squirrel-extermination device explodes, nearly ending his life.
A very painful, almost fatal, accident occurred last week. While George Thompson was trying to rid his ranch of a few squirrels by the use of a 'patent knocker,' the machine blew up, as its habit is, striking Mr. Thompson fairly on the nose. It took the doctor two hours to get his nose, which was badly crushed, into a respectable shape again. A blow of such force three inches higher would certainly have been fatal. As it is, George will escape working his poll tax.
“A blow of such force three inches higher would certainly have been fatal.”
Agricultural accidents involving DIY 'patent' contraptions were a constant danger for early 20th-century farmers. While the technology has advanced, the struggle to safely manage pests on rural land remains a shared, albeit less explosive, challenge for modern growers.
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