Lost his head

A most dreadful accident happened at the new works belonging to the London Dock Company, at the Hermitage-bridge, Wapping. As Mr. Thomas, the engineer, in the evening, was inspecting the machinery, he perceived that one of the double keys which fasten the top of the large lifting-pump-rods was loose; he ordered round a man to him upon the platform, to drive in the key tighter, which the poor fellow imprudently attempted to do without first stopping the steam engine: it appears, that in striking at the key he missed his blow, and his arm getting entangled between the arms of the pump-wheel, his head was suddenly drawn in, and in less than one moment he fell backwards dead against Mr. Thomas, with his head literally crushed to atoms. Mr. Thomas's clothes and person were almost covered with the poor fellow's blood and brains. The man has left a wife and three children to lament his loss.