Starch Factory05

 

WAUPACA REPUBICAN

April 21, 1905

 

STARCH LOWER WEDNESDAY

Without Warning Timber Broke Letting Starch and Vats Fall in a Crash

Damage $1,000 or Over.

 

            A timber broke at the starch factory of the Waupaca Starch and Potato Co’s plant Wednesday about ten minutes to twelve o’clock and in twelve seconds thereafter three huge vats on the second tier floorings and timbers crashed down on the vats below the whole weighing probably a hundred tons.  Several hundred bushels of potatoes in a bin above the grinder broke loose and down with the rest.  Some of the vats and timbers crashed against the main shafting bending and twisting the heavy rod in terrible shape also breaking the pulleys and destroying some of the belting.  Manager Bothwell sent for Hans Knudsen to survey the wreck and prepare for immediate reconstruction of the broken timbers and vats.

            That several persons were not killed was no doubt due to the fact that they were not under it, but Mr. Bothwell says if the accident had happened ten minutes sooner it would  have cost several lives, as four men were doing some work among the vats on the first floor where the heft of the stuff fell.  Roy Heath was standing among the vats that fell but managed to get away from the danger line in time and stepped out between two vats.

            Harry Wilde who was tending the grater was struck on the head with some falling potatoes and in getting out either hurt one of his legs or a board fell against it.  He was not hurt very bad but it gave him a scare after he saw what a narrow escape he had.  It will cost probably ten hundred dollars to repair the damages.

            The factory is operated this season under lease by the Union Starch Co.  It is supposed the main part of the damage, though will fall on the old company on account of a defect or dry rot in the timber supports.  Manager Bothwell will have a crew working day and night until all is repaired which it is expected will take about ten days.