A routine chore nearly turned deadly for a young Tennessee woman in December 1915 when a single swing of an axe left her with a terrifying wound to the neck.
Miss Haley Farr, the daughter of a widowed woman living near Adams Ford, was outside cutting wood on a Monday afternoon shortly before nightfall. According to the account later published in the Crossville Chronicle, Farr raised a double-bitted axe to strike when the tool apparently hit an overhead limb. The collision knocked the axe from its intended path and sent one of its blades directly into the right side of her neck.
The resulting injury was severe. The axe cut through a large muscle almost to the bone, leaving a deep gash that came dangerously close to the jugular vein. Had the blade struck only slightly differently, the accident might have proved immediately fatal.
Farr’s sister eventually found her after she had already lost a considerable amount of blood. By then, the injured young woman was extremely weak and nearly unconscious. Her condition was so poor that she could not clearly explain what had happened. The position of the axe and the surroundings, however, apparently helped those present reconstruct the accident.
Dr. V. L. Lewis was called to treat the wound. Although he expressed hope that Farr would recover, its depth and severity made him unwilling to give any assurances.
Frightfully Wounded
ADAMS, Tennessee. — Monday afternoon shortly before night, Miss Haley Farr, daughter of a widow woman living near Adams Ford, accidentally cut herself severely on the right side of her neck with a double-bitted axe.
It seems the young lady was out cutting some wood and as she made a motion to strike with the axe it hit a limb over her head and threw the axe against her neck on the right side causing a frightful gash.
Double Bitted Axe
The large muscle was severed almost to the bone and the gash extended perilously near to the jugular vein.
Dr. V.L. Lewis was called and dressed the wound yesterday morning and has hopes for the recovery of the girl, but the wound is so severe and deep that he hesitates to say that recovery will be sure.
When found by her sister the girl had lost so much blood that she was very weak and almost unconscious.
Her weak condition prevented her from giving any clear account of just how the accident occurred, but the surroundings indicated that it occurred as stated.
Source: Crossville Chronicle. Crossville, Tenn. December 8, 1915.
