The Fort Dodge Messenger: Jan. 16, 1903

Is Paralyzed From Waist Down

Juel Johnson, Miner for Pleasant Valley Coal Co., is Very Seriously Injured

Caught Under Mass of Coal

Great Fragment Weighing 300 Pounds Fell Upon Him While at Work

Juel Johnson, a miner in the mines of the Pleasant Valley Coal company, was very seriously injured by a fall of coal while at work on Thursday morning. He now lies paralyzed from the waist down, is unable to move his feet and has no sensation below that point. Physicians express the hope that if the paralysis is causes simply by a clot of blood pressing upon the spinal cord, that it may be absorbed and Johnson may recover. If however, the bone itself is crushed in upon the cord, and is pressing upon it, they do not extend hope for his recovery. The average life under such circumstances, is said to be from two and one half to three years.

Johnson was engaged in sledging down coal when the accident happened. He was working to get down a lump weighing about 300 pounds which appeared firmly fixed overhead. He started to remove some of the coal just under it, with the plan of wedging down the heavier mass. While he was on his knees, thus engaged, the large lump became loosened, and fell upon him, striking him a glancing blow on the back midway between the hips. Had the mass descended upon him directly, he would have been crushed to death.

Everything possible is being done for the injured man, but the doctors are able to extend little hope. Johnson is a single man.

Other articles:

Juel Johnson in Sad Plight

His Case is a Peculiar One

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Dec. 24, 1903

Nore (sic) Tham (sic) Their Share of Misfortune

Home of W.H. Newsum, on Twelfth Avenue South, is the Scene of Many Troubles.

Misfortune seems to shadow the home of Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Newsum, at 622 Twelfth avenue south. Some time ago their little daughter was taken ill with scarlet fever. But a few days after the quarantine was raised, the same child was again quarantined, this time for diphtheria. A few days ago their little son met with a serious accident by falling from a horse, the most severe of his injuries being a fractured skull. Meanwhile the quarantine was lifted from the home. Wednesday quarantine was again established, another child being ill with diphtheria.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Nov. 12, 1903

Receives 1,100 Volts and Lives

Peter Carney Experiences an Electric Shock Sufficient to Kill Ordinary Man.

Is Able to Work Today

Accidentally Leans Against Switchboard and Falls to Floor Unconscious.

Receiving thru his body an electrical shock of 1,100 volts at 5 o’clock in the afternoon, within an hour reviving after he was apparently dead, and returning to work this morning showing no ill effects of the shock aside from a slight stiffness of the knees, is the experience of Peter Carney, an employe (sic) of the Fort Dodge Light and Power Company.

Wednesday afternoon Carney approached the brink of death about as close as a human being can go and live to tell of it. He accidentally leaned against a switchboard thru which was passing an electrical current of 1,100 volts strength. With a groan he fell to the floor and lay there to all appearances dead. Fortunately for him there was near a person who knew not exactly “first aid to the injured,” but “first aid to the electrocuted.” Carney was revived and within a short time was able to get on his feet and later to walk about.

The accident occurred at the power house of the Fort Dodge Light and Power company while Carney with a number of other men was engaged in putting in place several pieces of heavy machinery which are part of the improvements the company is making to his plant.

When it is known that persons are often killed by an electrical current of 500 voltage, the same used in operating street cars, the intensity of Carney’s shock can be fully realized. Carney is a man of large physique, weighing over 200 pounds. He had only recently entered the employ of the Light and Power company and it seems was unaware of the dangerous nature of electricity. While assisting in unloading the machinery he was several times cautioned to be careful in passing the switchboard. No one saw him when he received the shock.  The first known of the accident was a groan or scream that issued form his lips as he fell unconscious on the floor.

Superintendent Comstock, who had charge of the work, instantly realized what had hapened (sic) and in a few seconds after Carney had fallen was at work over the prostrate man. The jaws of the latter were tightly closed, but the superintendent in a few minutes succeeded in inducing artifical respiration. When partially revived, Carney was was (sic) assisted to his feet and with Superintendent Comstock as a support was moved about. Later he fully regained consciousness, but it was some time before he was able to understand what had happened.

This morning he returned to work as usual.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Nov. 7, 1905

The Mayor is Up in Arms

Says Distributing Pills and Medicines About The City Must Stop.

With the bringing before him a case where a little child had become dangerously ill from eating a sample box of pills thrown into the front yard by a distributing agent, Mayor Bennett has risen in his wrath and declares that distributing samples of medicines about the city especially at residences must be stopped.

He states that he will notify official bill poster and advertising agent W.P. Durmer that he must not take any more contracts to put out such stuff and will instruct his police to arrest all transients whom they find pursuing a similar work. His action will no doubt be approved through the city particularly by people with small children, from the fact that the little ones often pick up, and eat boxes of tempting-looking sugar coated pills, etc., that they found about the street and house.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Nov. 5, 1906

Ladies Got Dumped Out

Tongue of Carriage Buried in ground by Force of Runaway – Occurs on 15th Street Viaduct.

The tongue of the buggy was driven several feet into the ground, the fair occupants were dumped unceremoniously into the street and the team trotted home, uninjured, with the tugs and ends of the harness trailing behind them. Such was the result of a peculiar accident on the hill near the 15th street viaduct Saturday evening as the Misses Oleson, daghters (sic) of Mrs. Gunder Oleson, of Badger, were driving home after a visit in Fort Dodge. The team was not harnessed very securely so that when they were making the descent the tugs became unfastened, and the tongue fell and frightened them.

The team ran across the viaduct, finally stopping when the tongue was driven into the ground and the young ladies were thrown from the buggy. No serious injuries were reported, although the Misses Oleson sustained a bad fall.

The Fort Dodge Daily Chronicle: Sept. 23, 1910

Gladys Powell Burned to Death

Young Girl Meets With Fatal Accident On Thursday Evening

Fell Down Cellar Stairs While Carrying Lamp

Clothing Was Completely Burned From Her Body and Death Resulted Seven Hours Later

Miss Gladys Powell, aged between sixteen and seventeen years, and who resided at 326 South Fifth street, received burns on Thursday evening about seven o’clock which resulted in her death at St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital about seven hours later.

Fell Down Cellar Stairs

The family were eating their evening meal in their  home when the daughter had occasion to visit the cellar, carrying a kerosene lamp to light her way. In some unaccountable manner she tripped and fell, and her clothing was set on fire from the lamp, according to members of the city fire department who made an investigation of the case. the mother rushed to the assistance of the young woman and was herself painfully burned about the arms and face, while attempting to rescue the young woman.

Clothing Burned Off

The young lady was gowned in light fabrics and for this reason the flames took rapid hold, all her clothing being burned from her body, with the exception of about one inch of one stocking and her entire body with the exception of the waist, which was given some protection by the corset, was one immense blister as a result of the burns.

An alarm of fire was turned in from Box 43, and the central fire department responded in record time. The emergency case carried on the fire wagon was pressed into service and Chief Trusty did all in his power to relieve the suffering of the young lady until two physicians who had been summoned had arrived. The physicians gave additional needed medical attention and the young woman whom it as seen was fatally burned, and mother who was painfully burned, were then taken to St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital. The young woman passed away about one o’clock this morning as a result of her burns, and while the mother will be confined at the hospital for some time it is not believed she will suffer permanent disfigurement.

Although the accident was of the most serious nature, and resulted fatally to Miss Gladys Powell, the house was not damaged in the least, and members of the fire department for this reason were able to give all of their attention to the relieving of the suffering of the young woman until the arrival of the physicians. Chief Trusty speaks in the highest terms of praise of the emergency case which has been prepared for the city fire department by Dr. C.H. Mulroney, city health officer, and which is carried at all times on the h ose wagon sent out from the central fire station.

No Inquest Necessary

Coroner J.D. Lowry stated this afternoon it would not be necessary to hold an inquest to inquire into the death of the  young woman.

(Editor’s note: Besides the sensational nature of this article, with graphic details about the extent of the young woman’s injuries, I did see something quite interesting. It mentions an emergency case prepared by the city’s health officer, Dr. Mulroney. It sounds like an early version of what paramedics take out on calls.)

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Sept. 14, 1906

Auto Scares Horse A Woman Hurt

Unfortunate Accident at Hart’s Grove – Mrs. William Hayes Injured.

A horse driven by Mr. and Mrs. William Hayes of Otho was scared by the automobile of Ed Rank at the republican rally at Hart’s grove today and Mrs. Hayes was thrown from the rig and severely injured.

Mrs. Rank was driving the machine. She met the other vehicle on a hill near the grove. The horse became frightened and began to rear and plunge. Mrs. Rank ran the auto clear out into the ditch to give more room and stopped the machine. Still the animal did not stop and Mr. Hayes, who was driving, being many nearly seventy years of age was unable to control it. A sudden jolt threw his wife out and she was picked up from the road in an almost unconscious condition. She was taken to the residence of George Lingerts near the grove and a physician was called. Her condition is serious but the nature of her injuries are not yet known. The accident happened shortly before noon.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Aug. 20, 1903

Ray Roper Painfully Injured

Sustains a Broken Leg in Runaway at Havelock

Horse Became Frightened and Starts to Run – Mr. Roper Jumps and Catches Foot in Wheel.

Ray Roper, traveling representative for the Fort Dodge Grocery company, met with a serious runaway accident Wednesday afternoon near Havelock, as the result of which he is suffering from a broken leg and other injuries.

Mr. Roper in company with another gentleman was driving near Havelock, when the horse became unmanageable, and started to run away. Mr. Roper was not driving so that he was free to jump which he did, but in lighting he in some way caught his leg in the wheel. At the speed of which the vehicle was moving it was impossible to extricate his limb so that he was dragged some distance during which he sustained a compound fracture of the leg which will necessitate his absence from work for some time. the driver kept his seat and was uninjured.

Mr. Roper is now in Havelock, where he is being nursed by his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Haney Roper, who went to Havelock Wednesday evening. The accident happened at five in the afternoon.

Dr. Saunders, of Fort Dodge, was summoned to Havelock to assist in the care of the patient. A telegram received from him today indicates that the injury is quite serious.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Aug. 9, 1906

Boy Injured by a Dynamite Cap

Clarence Gilbert of West Fort Dodge Almost Killed by Explosion

Was Rendered Unconscious

Was Taken to Hospital Where an Operation was Performed – is Still in a Precarious Condition – Piece of Cap Blown Into Body.

Clarence Gilbert, the 10-year-old son of Nels P. Gilbert, a miner, residing at 235 South Thirteenth street, West Fort Dodge, received what may prove to be a fatal injury by the explosion of a dynamite cap late yesterday afternoon.

The little lad, together with another boy, was playing with the cap. they had found it and did not know what it was, and with boyish curiosity young Gilbert resolved to split it open. He laid it on a stone and struck it with another, with the natural disastrous result. A piece of the cap was blown into his side directly below the heart and the lad was knocked unconscious by the force of the explosion.

He was hastily taken to the hospital, where an operation was performed and the piece of shall (sic) removed. He is resting as easily as possible under the circumstances today, but it (sic) still in a precarious condition.