Haying accidents

MCCUTCHEON, COVERDALE

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 6/25/2007 at 14:27:26

Maquoketa Record, July 18, 1906:

On Tuesday of last week, John McCutcheon, a lad eighteen years of age, living on a farm near Welton, was most seriously injured while haying. In sliding down from the hay-mow he came in contact with the handle of a pitchfork, which entered the bowel, tearing a large hole in it, and penetrated the bladder. The injured young man was brought to the Iowa Sanatorium(Maquoketa), where the wounds were closed and dressed by Drs's Bowen and Skelley, and at this writing the patient is showing a fair prospect of making a good recovery. The injured man and attending physicians are to be congratulated upon the favorable conditions shown at this time, as the injury was most dangerous and serious.

Charles Coverdale is not walking much on one of his feet. While putting hay into a barn the hay fork loosened and fell unexpectedly, just missing the young man's head and body, but catching him in the heel as he dodged the falling fork. It entered the member to the bone and produced an ugly wound. Things could have easily been so much worse the accident is considered a lucky one.