FARMER SERIOUSLY INJURED BY FALLING TREE
Seriously injured when struck by a falling tree, Charles E. Henninger, 47, Tax Collector of Lykens Township, is a patient in the Harrisburg Hospital. His injuries include a fracture of the right leg below the knee, fractures of several ribs and the pelvis, fractured vertebra of the back, and a deep gash of the head. The Henningers reside on a farm southeast of Berrysburg.
Mr. Henninger was attempting to fell the stump of a mulberry tree in the yard at their home Monday afternoon. A rope, attached to the trunk, was held by Mrs. Henninger and their sons Pershing Henninger and Lee Henninger, to prevent the tree from falling on the fence. Having completed chopping at the base, Mr. Henninger turned to walk away, apparently intending to help his wife and boys pull on the rope. Hard of hearing, Mr. Henninger did not hear their warning shouts as the tree started to fall, and he was struck by a small limb and hurled to the ground.
Dr. R. E. Barto who was summoned, advised his removal to a hospital. Members of the family who visited him yesterday reported him to be in good spirits.
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From a local newspaper at the time of the incident, 1936.
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This is a story of my grandfather Charles which took place on the same farm I grew up on. My dad Russell was too young to participate in the work that was happening at the time, but most of his memories of his father was always of him being paralyzed in his home and being cared for by my grandmother Clara. I never saw this article before… it is sad but also a very important part of my family history… Thank you for including on this site.