Accidents on the farm do happen. Witness the recent deaths of three Alberta sisters, who smothered in a grain bin. A university friend of mine had his foot torn off in a grain auger. My cousin’s father was blinded by an exploding tire. I have a terrible incident involving tree removal in my book. A death. And it was true.

Fortunately farm safety organizations, better practices and safer equipment raise awareness and reduce risk. However, one must be careful. As a child I was cautious, which was a good thing and maybe that was a reason why I was allowed to spend time on the farm. I do recall my grandfather warning me not to go into the silo alone. The fermenting silage gave off carbon dioxide, which displaces oxygen. The back end of a large cow was scary, for a small child, never mind when she decided to pee or poop. Sometimes a back leg would shoot back if she was annoyed. My grandfather had a femur broken from a cranky cow kicking out. I gave them lots of space at the back end. The whirling knuckle joins of a tractor’s power take off drive was also frightening. The guarding, poor.

Here is a typical barn sketch with ramp access to the upper level.

 

Back to the story. Many days during hay season when the weather was fine and the threat dew or rain was coming, we would squeeze in another load of baled hay after supper. My grandfather would end the day by driving the tractor and loaded hay wagon into the barn, often by 9 ‘clock.  Unloading could wait for the following day.

This particular morning, my grandfather and I began unloading the bales from the wagon, front of the wagon first as we had the bale elevator positioned near the front of the load. As the load was half removed, there was a simultaneous crack and ejection. Both of us were catapulted up and out the barn door, a distance of about thirty feet, onto the ramp. Luckily we both a landed on some bales. Slightly bruised, my grandfather and I laughed at our flying expedition.

I surmise that the “U” or other bolts, snapped which held the wagon deck onto the wood undercarriage, due to the counter weight effect. My grandfather said when we picked ourselves up, “I guess I will have to fix that wagon.” Yes and no more flings out the back door.