The Washburn Leader, Sat. May 18, 1895
FATAL ACCIDENT.
Martin Handy, Dead.
On Tuesday noon Billy Beekman rode into Washburn from Falconer, with the information that an accident had occurred at Handy’s saw mill at Preparation point, about 9 o’clock that morning in which Martin Handy had his foot severed with a saw. He could give no particulars - only the fact of the accident.
It was afterward learned that while the saw was in motion, he stepped in front of the saw to adjust the rope belt on the fly wheel of the engine, in some way the log carrier stopped but started again bearing Mr. Handy against the rapidly moving saw, striking him in the left ankle completely severing the foot from the leg.
The nearest neighbor, Justice Van Soren was hastily summoned. Van Soren had seen some service as hospital steward or nurse in the Civil War, but it seemed old Father Time and no recent practice had unfitted him to act in so critical a case, so Billy Beekman was started out for Washburn to hunt up Doctor Forbes, who started down at once, but on his arrival found the wounded man had been bundled in a wagon and taken to Bismarck, where he was placed in Dr. Smith’s care who at once discovered it would be impossible to save his patient, owing to the great loss of blood, he having steadily bled from open arteries since the accident, so he breathed his last Wednesday morning at 9 o’clock.
Mr. Handy leaves a wife and five small children. He has resided in this County since 1883, with the exception of two years that himself and family spent on the Pacific coast. Himself and wife were from Minnesota. The saw mill was his own property. He also owns a farm near Coal Lake, on which his family at Present reside.
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The Washburn Leader, Sat. May 25, 1895
Burial of Martin Handy.
The body of Martin Handy, was brought up from the Lamborn hospital, Bismarck, Friday, by Nelson Herd, and taken charge of by Peter Miller, who reached Washburn from Turtle Lake, the same evening.
Preparations for burial were at once made, and on Saturday morning at 10 o’clock burial service was conducted at the Washburn school house by Rev. J. A. Design, after which a large concourse of people in carriages, wagons and afoot proceeded to the Riverview Cemetery, south of town, where final services over the dead man was rendered by the minister, when the thumps of clodded earth upon the coffin covering, announced harshly to the stricken widow, the five children bereft so suddenly of their father - and to sympathizing friends that the earth closed over all that is mortal of Martin Handy.
Martin’s birthday was also his burial day, being just 35 years of age. A vigorous, healthy man but five days before, the Bible passage “In the midst of life we are in death,” was never more forcibly brought to the minds of many of us than at the burial services at Riverview Cemetery, Saturday noon.
Submitted by Volunteer
