A MAN WITH AN IRON HAND.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2208, 1 February 1886, Page 2

A MAN WITH AN IRON HAND.

Reference having been made by a contemporaiy to people without arms, and the way in which the loss is supplemented by artificial ones, reminds us of a man who may bo seen at work at a blacksmith's shop in Dupon-sfreet, San Francisco, USUI? an iron hand. This iron-listed man lost his right arm at the olbow by. the premature explosion of a cannon whilo participating in Fourth ol July celebration m Marysville in 18C4. Being a blackBmith and key-fitter by trade, the. loss compelled him to abandon this For fire years he wandered abouWhe country, doing one thing and another One day, while in a blacksmith's ahop at Vallejo, tho idea entered hisliead to; fabricate an artificial hand out of iron, Ho' gave his directions, and had the contrivance he now woars manufactured.-. It consists of a steel cylinder, about 5 inches long. To this is affixed a leather apparatus, which enables him to adjust the Jt artificial hand on the stump of his arm. C* Tho stump fits into the apparatus, and ia • carefully strapped. The hand may then be used as a hammer, and the dents in the steel show how much it has been •' so applied, The deficiency of fingerg to grasp a file is supplied in tho following •. manner :-A long hole projects into the base of the cylinder, into which a file or knife may be screwed. This is probably tightened, and the loss of fingers is not felt. If the iron-handed man desires to pick up anything, he adjusts a peculiar '• hook or an instrument resembling a i chisel, and ho can bring to his reach anv. thing he may require. Besides the hem • hand, which ho generally uses .for J§d i work, he has a more delicate apparatus of ' brass; manufactured for easy work, ■& He says he has. worn .the steel' -i. for over sixteen years, aiid he h&s ; fv . grown to regard it with great affection t He scarcely feels the.lo«s of hii natural j> hand. It is a .curious sight to see the i Pending away on a nail with hi* i hand. The nail penetrates further and i' urther into the wood, and yet the atrik. '1 Kt4 - ; f