Kate’s Notes: My grandfather, George Franklin “Frank” Gilliland, had what my mother called a “peg leg” due to an on-the-job accident some years before she was born. It was an offhand mention my mother had made years ago and I hadn’t given it much thought until I found these two articles in The Portsmouth Times. Though there were two Frank Gillilands, my grandfather and a cousin, living in the same Portsmouth, Ohio neighborhood at the time (which has caused real confusion in some records I’ve seen), I recognized the Frank Gilliland of these articles only due to the nature of the accident.

THE PORTSMOUTH TIMES
Monday, May 22, 1911

CRUSHED BY A TRIPLE BLOCK
_________________

   Frank Gilliland, a stationary engineer, of No. 130 East Tenth street, had his right leg so badly crushed at the Sam Rice sand tipple in the West End Monday afternoon that amputation may be necessary.
   “Shorty”, as he is known to his friends was in the engine room when an attempt was underway to raise the big “A” out of the river into which it had fallen one day last week. A two inch iron hook broke and the big 500 pound triple block swung with the rope against the side of the engine room, and breaking through the structure, struck Gilliland to the floor. It also broke the engine. Several physicians responded to a hurry call and Lynn’s ambulance rushed the injured man to Hempstead hospital.
   
THE PORTSMOUTH TIMES
Wednesday, June 21, 1911

GIIILILAND OUT ON CRUTCHES

“Shorty” Gilliland, the stationary engineer who lost a leg in an accident at the Sam Rice sand tipple, is able to be about on cructhes.