Accident at the Government Printing Office. A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.

Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 70, 20 September 1887, Page 3

Accident at the Government Printing Office. A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.

A YOUTH NEAKLY DASHED TO PIECES. A wonderful escape from a terrible death was experienced yesterday morning by a youth named Geerge Fishor, oldest son of the well-known local politician. Young Fishor is about to become an apprentice at the Government Printing Office, and for some little time past ho has beon employed in working about the engino which drives tho electric lighting machinery and the machine used to sharpen the knives of the paper cutter. A few minutes after 10 o clock he got up on a plank to lubricato a *haft about ton foet from tho floor, and while engagod in filling the oil cups an apron which ho was wearing over his ooat was taken ronnd the shaft. He endeavoured to tear himself away, but without success, and in a few seoonds he was being taken round the shaft at a great rate. Fortunately he wound his legs and right arm round the shaft, otherwise he would most certainly have been dashed to pieces ajainst the end of the engine-house. After going round at a fearful rate for nearly a couple of minutos his clothing gave way and ho fell to the floor in a state of nudity, his collar, necktie, boots, and socks being the only artioles which had not been torn away. He was, as might be expeoted, very much dazed on reaching tho floor, but on being provided with an ovorcoat and pair of overalls, he was able to walk to Dr. Cahill's sargery, where it was found that no bones had been broken. Several nasty bruises were, howover , found on different parts of the body. Fisher then walked home and went to bed, but is likely to bo about again in a few days. Singular to relate, a young man named Bell, who was engaged in working the knifesharpening machine just below the shaft, did not know about Fisher's peril until that youth dropped almost at his foet, minus every stitch of clothing. Fioher's escape was a miraculous one, and was only due to his presence of mind in clutching hold of the shaft, so as to prevent himself from being dashed against the wall of the building. An idea of the peril in which he was placed may be gathered when we say that in tho opinion of Mr. Youmans, the engineer, tho shaft was making fully 150 revolutions a minute.