Seriously Injured While at Work in Androscoggin Mill, Lewiston Daily Sun, April 19, 1906

Semi-conscious and his head banged and bruised, Master Russell, grandson of Cornelius Russell of Lincoln Street, Lewiston, was extricated from the machinery in the Androscoggin Mill where he worked, yesterday morning, just in the nick of time to save his life. Suffering intense pain from the injuries received, the lad was taken to the office of Dr. J. A. Donovan, where his head was dressed. He was later removed to the home of his grandfather.

Master Russell, who is about 12 years of age, was working about the mill as usual yesterday morning, when he is believed to have slipped and fell in such a way as to get caught in the pulleys or frames. His head was wedged into a small space and the revolving machinery drew the lad nearer and nearer his death. Helpless to relieve himself, and the pulleys beating and bruising his head, the boy screamed for help.

Not an instant was lost in rescuing the boy. The machinery was stopped and the boy was extricated from his perilous position and quickly removed to Dr. Donovan’s office.

There were found to be three severe injuries about the lad’s head. A gash was cut on the forehead and extending into the eyebrows, the left ear was badly lacerated and there were severe abrasions of the face. No bones were broken although the injuries extended to the neck, and the arms were also strained and somewhat bruised.

After the injuries had been dressed and the boy made as comfortable as possible, he was removed to the home of his grandfather, Cornelius Russell, Lower Lincoln Street, where he was resting as comfortably as could be expected last night. While the accident was a very serious one, it is believed the boy’s life will be saved, although it will be several days before he will be able to resume work.

Just how the accident occurred is not known as no one was an eyewitness to the mishap which led to his entanglement in the machinery. It is supposed, however, that he slipped in some way while performing his duties in the mill.

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Fatal Accident in the Mule Room of the Androscoggin Mill, Lewiston Today, Lewiston Sun Journal, August 10, 1906

With his skull so terribly fractured that he cannot possibly live, 12-year-old Arthur Pelletier lies unconscious in his home at No. 5 River Street, Lewiston, awaiting the angel of death. The accident which will cost him his life, was in the neighborhood of nine o’clock, Saturday morning, in the Androscoggin Mill. The boy’s head was caught in the machinery in the mule room and terrible injuries were inflicted.

A reporter visited the tenement where the little sufferer lives. Through crowds of laughing, playing children he climbed up three flights of stairs to the rooms of the Pelletier family.

“You like to see the little boy, my nephew?” asked a man who was at the door. In the kitchen were many people red-eyed and weeping, eating the noonday meal. In the next room lay the injured boy. His hoarse rattling breathing could be heard through the door. He lay at full length on the bed, covered only in a little wrap. The whole top of his head was swathed in white bandages. The eyes were closed, swollen and black. His lips were open and every breath drew a hollow rattle from his throat. Two women tended him, brushing off flies that hovered over his face.

There is no hope for him, say the doctors. Each side of his skull is fractured – two inches one side, three on the other. The doctors could do nothing. It was impossible to perform an operation and death alone will relieve him. The doctors say it is the worst case they ever saw.

No one can be found who saw the accident. The lad had worked in the mule room of the larger Androscoggin Mill only four days. It is said that he was idle for a few moments waiting for work. He was playing with a ball of yarn or something of the kind, and it fell near one of the machines. He jumped to recover it, slipped or tripped over something, and his head was caught in the gears. He fell unconscious and has remained so ever since.

Dr. Donovan was called and attended him in the mill, but could do nothing. Dr. Hascall and Dr. Ducharme also attended the case. The boy’s parents are Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Pelletier. The father works in the Bates Mill. He has a sister who is employed in the little Androscoggin.

Arthur Pelletier Dead, Lewiston Evening Journal, August 13, 1906

Arthur Pelletier, the 12-year-old boy who was so frightfully injured in the Androscoggin Mill Saturday morning, died at about 4 o’clock, Saturday afternoon. Sunday evening the remains were taken to River de Loup, Canada, where they will be interred. The parents accompanied the remains.

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Alleged Violation of Child Labor Law, Lewiston Daily Sun, July 10, 1913

John T. Russell and Arthur Roux, overseers in the Androscoggin Mill, will appear in the Lewiston Municipal Court this morning to answer to the charge of violating the child labor law. George Lemieux will also be arraigned, charged with falsely stating the age of his daughter, Milaire Lemieux, employed at the Bates Mill.

Warrants against these men were issued upon complaint of State Labor Commissioner Connolly, who since the fatal accident to Antonio Leblanc, aged 11, in the Androscoggin Mill last week, has been investigating conditions in this city. It is alleged that Overseers Russell and Roux have been employing children under 14 years of age. Labor Commissioner Connolly gives the names of Joseph Callier, Georgianna Damorouise and Antonio Leblanc whom he claims have been illegally employed.

In the case of George Lemieux, it is alleged that he gave his daughter’s age as 14 when she was under 13 years of age.