The Anaconda Standard

HIT WITH SLEDGE.
George Allen Has "Hard Head"-A Peculiar Accident.

BUTTE, Sept. 21.-George Allen is a blacksmith who works in the Silver Bow mill shop and is one of the few men whose skull is hard enough to glance a 16-pound sledge off without being seriously damaged.
This may appear strange, but is nevertheless true. Last night he was engaged in making what is termed a "D" hook, and his helper, Tom Haddicks, was assisting him and doing the striking with a 16-pound hammer.
At the proper time, Allen signaled the sledge swinger to quit by tapping lightly on the anvil with his hammer and bent over the work to do the finishing act. Haddicks evidently did not hear the signal, nor did he notice the movement of Allen, and brought the big hammer down with tremendous force, and when too late he noticed Allen's head between the anvil and his sledge.
The head of the injured man must be a strong one, as the hammer, which struck a little to the right of the top of his head, glanced off, only slightly injuring him. Allen is subject to fits and was taken with several after the accident. When in these convulsions it required four men to hold him. He was taken to his home in East Galena street where he was cared for. He was found to be suffering more from his attack of convulsions than from the blow with the hammer. He was around to-day much to the surprise of his fellow workmen and expressed his intention of resuming work in a few days.