Dismembering industrial accidents were not rare. Just a few days before, a man lost his foot in a thresher, and a hand was severed at a sawmill. For a reason unions came into existence.
MAN HAS TOP OF HIS HEAD TORN OFFFRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT AT THE WEHRSPON LUMBER MILL ON TUESDAY
Jacob Archambeau Meets With Instant Death in a Shocking Manner by Falling Into BeltingA frightful accident occurred at Wehrspon’s lumber mills in Ornbaum Valley near Cloverdale on Tuesday morning, which cost Jacob Archambeau, well known in Santa Rosa, his life.
Archambeau was the engineer at the saw mill, and in some way fell into the belting. The top of his head was torn of completely from the ears up. One arm was broken in two places. There were no other injuries. Death was instantaneous. The accident happened so quickly that Archambeau’s bleeding and lifeless form fell at their feet almost before the witnesses to the shocking affair were able to realize what had happened.
The deceased was well known as an experienced millman and engineer. Just how the accident happened is not certain, other than he fell into the belting. The accident is deeply regretted by all of the deceased’s friends, and there were many.
[..]
– Press Democrat, August 25, 1904