An Accident Report
Dear Sir,
I am writing in response to your request for additional information. In block
number 3 of the accident reporting form, I put "trying to do the job alone" as
the cause of my accident. You said in your letter that I should explain more
fully, and I trust that the following details will be sufficient:
I am a bricklayer by trade. On the day of the accident, I was working alone on
the roof of a new six story building. When I completed my work, I discovered
that I had about 500 pounds of brick left over. Rather than carry the bricks
down by hand, I decided to lower them in a barrel by using a pulley, which,
fortunately, was attached to the side of the building at the sixth floor.
Securing the rope at ground level, I went up to the roof, swung the barrel out
and loaded the brick into it. Then I went back to the ground and untied the
rope, holding it tight to insure a slow descent of the 500 pounds of bricks. You
will note, in block number 11 of the accident reporting form, that I weigh 135
pounds.
Due to my surprise of being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my
presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded
at a rather rapid rate up the side of the building.
In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming down. This explains
the fractured skull and broken collarbone. Slowed only slightly, I continued my
rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my right hand were two knuckles
deep into the pulley. Fortunately, by this time, I had regained my presence of
mind and was able to hold tightly to the rope in spite of my pain.
At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground,
and the bottom broke out of the barrel. Devoid of the weight of the bricks, the
barrel now weighed approximately fifty pounds.
I refer you again to my weight in the accident reporting form, block number 11.
As you might imagine, I began a rapid descent down the side of the building. In
the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming up. This accounted for
the two fractured ankles and the lacerations on my legs and lower body.
The encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell
onto the pile of bricks, and fortunately, only three vertebrae were cracked. I
am sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the bricks in pain, unable
to stand, and watching the empty barrel six stories above me...I again lost my
presence of mind...and let go of the rope!
See The Guts !
In a ship the Generals of three nations were traveling with their soldiers. They
started the topic that whose soldier had more of guts.
The American general called for one of his men and told him to jump down the
ship and take a round swimming around the moving ship. The soldier did as he was
commanded and the general boasted of by saying "See the guts !".
Now the German general called out for one of his men and asked him to take two
similar rounds.the soldier did as he was told.when he came back from the water
the German said "See the guts ".
Now the Indian General called out for his most courageous man and asked him to
take five similar rounds.
The soldier promptly replied, "Am I your dad's servant?".
At this the general proudly said "See the guts".