Martha, Anna, Grace

Dreeuwas(Father), Dick, Rika, Anna (Mother)
Alex
Dreeuwes Fiet
June 6, 1907

 


HIT BY FLYING BOARD
Dreeuwes Fiet Killed in Thayer Mill No. 2

WAS WORKING AT AN EDGER
Six Children Left Orphans, wife Died Six Months Ago
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Struck on the shoulder by a flying piece of board, whirled out of an edger, Dreeuwes Fiet, 36 E. Delaware Street, was almost instantly killed this morning on the upper floor of the Thayer Lumber company's mill No. 2, on the lake front near the foot of Fifth Street.

Six months ago Mr. Fiet's wife died. About three months ago his mother passed away. Mr. Fiet's death makes the third in the family during the past half year. Six children are left orphans, of whom one is seriously ill and unable to leave her bed.

BOARD BROKE
The accident occurred about 10:15 this morning on the upper floor of the mill, where the big edger is situated. Mr. Fiet had put the board in the machine and was waiting for it to come out. The theory of the workmen is that in some way the board broke as it traversed through the rollers.

Mr. Fiet's apron lay on the floor and he turned around to pick it up. His back was toward the saws. Just as he bent down the piece of board shot backward from the rapidly revolving saws and struck Mr. Fiet on the back, above the heart.

Such was the violence with which he was struck and so great the momentum of the board that it threw him forward almost seven feet, one of his feet becoming entangled in the chains of the big machine. The board shot to the other end of the building.

Workmen immediately ran forward and pulled him out of the way of the chain. He had already lost consciousness. A physician was summoned, but before medical aid could arrive, within fifteen minutes of the time he was struck, Mr. Fiet died.

John Rop, a fellow workman of Mr. Fiet was dispatched to bring the news to his children. The family was distraught by the news and neighbors were unable to quiet them.

DAUGHTER IS SICK
Six children survive Mr. Fiet, four daughters and two sons. The two sons are the youngest children. The daughters are Miss Anna Fiet, Miss Grace Fiet, who is in poor health, Miss Martha Fiet, and Miss Rika Fiet. The sons are Richard Fiet, aged 14, and Aleck Fiet, aged 12.

Mr. Fiet was 51 years old and would have celebrated his fifty-second birthday in October. He came to this country about twenty-six years ago, and was shortly married in this city to Mrs. Fiet. He was at one time a janitor in the First Christian Reformed church, of which he was a member.



Muskegon Chronicle, June 8, 1907

EMPLOYES OF MILLS ATTEND FUNERAL

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With many of his fellow employees in attendance, and six of them acting as pallbearers, the funeral of Dreeuwas Fiet, who was killed Thursday morning by a flying board at the Thayer Lumber company's mill No. 2, was held this afternoon at 2 o'clock at the residence.

The services were conducted by two pastors, Rev. J.I. Fles, pastor of the First Christian Reformed church, and Rev. John W. Brink, pastor of the Fourth Christian Reformed church. Mr. Fles spoke in the Holland language and Mr. Brink in English.

Because of the tragic circumstances of Mr. Fiet's death, the Thayer Lumber Company's mills were shut down for the afternoon, in order to allow the employees to be present at the funeral.

Reprint from the Muskegon Chronicle, June 6, 1907 Contributed by: Harvey Toppen