What killed my ancestor?

[SILAD]

Greetings,

 

Im a first time poster trying to figure out what type of machine may have killed my ancestor.  Here is the story from his obituary from 1914 (you can also see the original newspaper clip in the attachment) :  

 

Bertram Werner was a blacksmith for the Soo Line in North Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.  On December 15, 1913 he was engaged in his usual work as a blacksmith in his shop when a handle of a machine struck him in the stomach.  He damaged his spleen and died from his injuries in July of 1914.

 

There isn't much to go on but here are the main points:

• Time period:  1913
• Type of work:  Train industry - Soo Line 
• Location:  Fond du lac
• Instrument that injured him:  handle of a machine

 

Thank you!

[arftist]

Yup, there isn't much to go on. 

By that point in history entire machine shops were well within the realm of the blacksmith and safety was a bad joke.

 

For that matter, there is as least a 50% chance that the accident is improperly recorded. Sorry. 

[Stefflus]

What handle has the power to do it if control is lost?
A rivet hole broach?
I'm thinking most likely not a machine handle per se, but a tong or tool handle in a power hammer?

[njanvilman]

My first thought was also a tong handle being forced up while holding stock, or just a long piece of stock.  Cold metal, momentary distraction, or any number of factors.  One other thought is maybe cutting metal using a mechanical shear.  They usually had long handles, and when the metal finally gives, and cuts through, maybe the handle of the shear came down fast and struck him in the gut.

[notownkid]

Was he working on a hand car and got hit with the handle, hard enough that could do a spleen.  I have found newspaper reports of old are about as accurate as those of today.  My great grandfather died of injuries when he slipped on the iced rail and fell between two cars where he was crushed trying to hook up a link and pin coupler.  His report said he died from injures when he fell at work.