Fredonia Democrat
Fredonia, Kansas
Friday, July 30, 1886
page 3
Fearful Accident
Two Persons Killed and One Seriously Injured by the
Explosion of a Thresher Boiler in Talleyrand Township.
A fearful accident, resulting in the death of two ment and the perhaps fatal injury of a girl, occurred last Monday afternoon on the farm of Hiram Mathews, in Talleyrand township, about seven miles southeast of Fredonia.
Chas. Goodnight and Riley Fisher, operators of a steam threshing machine, were threshing for Mr. Mathews. Mr. Goodnight, the regular engineer, was absent, and Riley Fisher was running the engine. Everything was running smoothly, however, when suddenly the boiler exploded with fearful force.
W.A. Chapin, an old gentleman who was standing a few feet back of the engine, was struck by several flying pieces of castings. One leg was torn completely off below the knee; the other was badly mangled and the bones shattered, and his skull was fractured by another piece.
Maggie Marshall, a twelve year old girl who was watching the work, had her skull crushed by one of the flying castings.
Abner Page and Michael Riddle were working together on a stack about sixty feet from the engine. A piece of iron struck Page on the back of the head, crushing his skull. Riddle escaped unhurt, but the fork he held in his hands was struck and the handle broken into three pieces.
Riley Fisher, who was standing by the side of the engine, miraculously escaped without injury.
The explosion, being from the rear of the engine, forced it forward, and it ran 160 feet, going through the side of a straw stack that stood in the way.
W.A. Chapin was removed to his home, a short distance from the scene of the accident, and Dr. Perkins sent for, but when the physician arrived he saw that the old gentleman, could never recover from the shock, although he was perfectly rational and stood his sufferings like a hero. Everything possible was done for the sufferer, but at 3 o'clock the following morning he died. Mr. Chapin came here about five years ago from New York state. He has no relatives here but an adopted daughter, Mrs. Thos. French, with whom he made his home.
Abner Page never recovered consciousness and died in a short time after the accident. He was a single man and his nearest relative is a sister living somewhere in the western part of the state. He had a good team and some stock and a good crop of corn near Lafontaine. He was about thirty years old and was highly respected by all who knew him.
Maggie Marshall, the other victim, is the daughter of Mr. Marshall who lives near the Steele school house, and who lately moved there from Linn county, this state. She is still alive but Dr. Perkins, who is attending her, says her recovery is very doubtful.
The funeral of Chapin and Page occurred on Tuesday. People came from miles around and the procession was a very long one. The remains were interred in the Koger cemetery, in Duck Creek township.
(transcribed by Judy Mayfield)
Fredonia, Kansas
Friday, July 30, 1886
page 3
Fearful Accident
Two Persons Killed and One Seriously Injured by the
Explosion of a Thresher Boiler in Talleyrand Township.
A fearful accident, resulting in the death of two ment and the perhaps fatal injury of a girl, occurred last Monday afternoon on the farm of Hiram Mathews, in Talleyrand township, about seven miles southeast of Fredonia.
Chas. Goodnight and Riley Fisher, operators of a steam threshing machine, were threshing for Mr. Mathews. Mr. Goodnight, the regular engineer, was absent, and Riley Fisher was running the engine. Everything was running smoothly, however, when suddenly the boiler exploded with fearful force.
W.A. Chapin, an old gentleman who was standing a few feet back of the engine, was struck by several flying pieces of castings. One leg was torn completely off below the knee; the other was badly mangled and the bones shattered, and his skull was fractured by another piece.
Maggie Marshall, a twelve year old girl who was watching the work, had her skull crushed by one of the flying castings.
Abner Page and Michael Riddle were working together on a stack about sixty feet from the engine. A piece of iron struck Page on the back of the head, crushing his skull. Riddle escaped unhurt, but the fork he held in his hands was struck and the handle broken into three pieces.
Riley Fisher, who was standing by the side of the engine, miraculously escaped without injury.
The explosion, being from the rear of the engine, forced it forward, and it ran 160 feet, going through the side of a straw stack that stood in the way.
W.A. Chapin was removed to his home, a short distance from the scene of the accident, and Dr. Perkins sent for, but when the physician arrived he saw that the old gentleman, could never recover from the shock, although he was perfectly rational and stood his sufferings like a hero. Everything possible was done for the sufferer, but at 3 o'clock the following morning he died. Mr. Chapin came here about five years ago from New York state. He has no relatives here but an adopted daughter, Mrs. Thos. French, with whom he made his home.
Abner Page never recovered consciousness and died in a short time after the accident. He was a single man and his nearest relative is a sister living somewhere in the western part of the state. He had a good team and some stock and a good crop of corn near Lafontaine. He was about thirty years old and was highly respected by all who knew him.
Maggie Marshall, the other victim, is the daughter of Mr. Marshall who lives near the Steele school house, and who lately moved there from Linn county, this state. She is still alive but Dr. Perkins, who is attending her, says her recovery is very doubtful.
The funeral of Chapin and Page occurred on Tuesday. People came from miles around and the procession was a very long one. The remains were interred in the Koger cemetery, in Duck Creek township.
(transcribed by Judy Mayfield)
Fredonia Democrat
Fredonia, Kansas
Friday, July 30, 1886
page 3
Fearful Accident
Two Persons Killed and One Seriously Injured by the
Explosion of a Thresher Boiler in Talleyrand Township.
A fearful accident, resulting in the death of two ment and the perhaps fatal injury of a girl, occurred last Monday afternoon on the farm of Hiram Mathews, in Talleyrand township, about seven miles southeast of Fredonia.
Chas. Goodnight and Riley Fisher, operators of a steam threshing machine, were threshing for Mr. Mathews. Mr. Goodnight, the regular engineer, was absent, and Riley Fisher was running the engine. Everything was running smoothly, however, when suddenly the boiler exploded with fearful force.
W.A. Chapin, an old gentleman who was standing a few feet back of the engine, was struck by several flying pieces of castings. One leg was torn completely off below the knee; the other was badly mangled and the bones shattered, and his skull was fractured by another piece.
Maggie Marshall, a twelve year old girl who was watching the work, had her skull crushed by one of the flying castings.
Abner Page and Michael Riddle were working together on a stack about sixty feet from the engine. A piece of iron struck Page on the back of the head, crushing his skull. Riddle escaped unhurt, but the fork he held in his hands was struck and the handle broken into three pieces.
Riley Fisher, who was standing by the side of the engine, miraculously escaped without injury.
The explosion, being from the rear of the engine, forced it forward, and it ran 160 feet, going through the side of a straw stack that stood in the way.
W.A. Chapin was removed to his home, a short distance from the scene of the accident, and Dr. Perkins sent for, but when the physician arrived he saw that the old gentleman, could never recover from the shock, although he was perfectly rational and stood his sufferings like a hero. Everything possible was done for the sufferer, but at 3 o'clock the following morning he died. Mr. Chapin came here about five years ago from New York state. He has no relatives here but an adopted daughter, Mrs. Thos. French, with whom he made his home.
Abner Page never recovered consciousness and died in a short time after the accident. He was a single man and his nearest relative is a sister living somewhere in the western part of the state. He had a good team and some stock and a good crop of corn near Lafontaine. He was about thirty years old and was highly respected by all who knew him.
Maggie Marshall, the other victim, is the daughter of Mr. Marshall who lives near the Steele school house, and who lately moved there from Linn county, this state. She is still alive but Dr. Perkins, who is attending her, says her recovery is very doubtful.
The funeral of Chapin and Page occurred on Tuesday. People came from miles around and the procession was a very long one. The remains were interred in the Koger cemetery, in Duck Creek township.
(transcribed by Judy Mayfield)
Fredonia, Kansas
Friday, July 30, 1886
page 3
Fearful Accident
Two Persons Killed and One Seriously Injured by the
Explosion of a Thresher Boiler in Talleyrand Township.
A fearful accident, resulting in the death of two ment and the perhaps fatal injury of a girl, occurred last Monday afternoon on the farm of Hiram Mathews, in Talleyrand township, about seven miles southeast of Fredonia.
Chas. Goodnight and Riley Fisher, operators of a steam threshing machine, were threshing for Mr. Mathews. Mr. Goodnight, the regular engineer, was absent, and Riley Fisher was running the engine. Everything was running smoothly, however, when suddenly the boiler exploded with fearful force.
W.A. Chapin, an old gentleman who was standing a few feet back of the engine, was struck by several flying pieces of castings. One leg was torn completely off below the knee; the other was badly mangled and the bones shattered, and his skull was fractured by another piece.
Maggie Marshall, a twelve year old girl who was watching the work, had her skull crushed by one of the flying castings.
Abner Page and Michael Riddle were working together on a stack about sixty feet from the engine. A piece of iron struck Page on the back of the head, crushing his skull. Riddle escaped unhurt, but the fork he held in his hands was struck and the handle broken into three pieces.
Riley Fisher, who was standing by the side of the engine, miraculously escaped without injury.
The explosion, being from the rear of the engine, forced it forward, and it ran 160 feet, going through the side of a straw stack that stood in the way.
W.A. Chapin was removed to his home, a short distance from the scene of the accident, and Dr. Perkins sent for, but when the physician arrived he saw that the old gentleman, could never recover from the shock, although he was perfectly rational and stood his sufferings like a hero. Everything possible was done for the sufferer, but at 3 o'clock the following morning he died. Mr. Chapin came here about five years ago from New York state. He has no relatives here but an adopted daughter, Mrs. Thos. French, with whom he made his home.
Abner Page never recovered consciousness and died in a short time after the accident. He was a single man and his nearest relative is a sister living somewhere in the western part of the state. He had a good team and some stock and a good crop of corn near Lafontaine. He was about thirty years old and was highly respected by all who knew him.
Maggie Marshall, the other victim, is the daughter of Mr. Marshall who lives near the Steele school house, and who lately moved there from Linn county, this state. She is still alive but Dr. Perkins, who is attending her, says her recovery is very doubtful.
The funeral of Chapin and Page occurred on Tuesday. People came from miles around and the procession was a very long one. The remains were interred in the Koger cemetery, in Duck Creek township.
(transcribed by Judy Mayfield)
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