WOMAN'S LEG IS TORN OFF BELOW KNEE BY WHEEL Mrs. Stephen Silvernagel of Strasburg Suffers From Strange Accident Mrs. Stephen Silvernagel, 21-year-old wife of a farmer living 10 miles from Strasburg, is in a local hospital recovering from an amputation of her left leg above the knee made necessary as the result of an accident which resulted in the leg being torn off at the knww. Although suffering from loss of blood and shock, Mrs. Silvernakel is expected to recover, her physician, Dr. F. R. Strauss, stated today. Mrs. Silvernagel was plowing on the farm while her husband in an adjoining field was seeding. As she was nearing the end of the last furrow Mrs. Silvernagel, in some unaccountable manner, slipped and her left foot got caught in the wheel of the plow. She called to the horses to stop, when she felt herself falling, but the animals kept on going several yards. Tourniquet Made As the wheel continued to revolve, it twisted Mrs. Silvernagel's left leg several turns until the limb was torn off at the knee. This twisting caused the nerves and blood vessels to be drawn down and they became so tightened as to prevent the flow of blood through the several veins. Mr. Silvernagel, hearing his wife's screams, rushed to her side, tore a piece of her dress and bandaged the torn limb, placed his wife in an automobile and drove her to Bismarck, a distance of 75 miles. She was operated on eight hours after the accident occurred. Bismarck Daily Tribune, 5/13/1920 Apparently Mrs. Silvernagel was four months pregnant at the time of the accident. Notes From Contributor: Our ancestors certainly were hardy, ambitious, "survivors"! Stephen SILVERNAGEL's 1st wife, Eva (SCHERR) SILVERNAGEL was probably about four months pregnant when she lost her leg in this farm accident. Five months later she gave birth to her (1st?) son, Joseph SILVERNAGEL on 16 Oct 1920 in Strasburg, ND. Eva SCHERR was the middle child of at least 11 children of Michael SCHERR & Regina WELK of Strasburg, ND [see 1910 census Strasburg, Emmons co, ND]. Eva SCHERR & Stephen SILVERNAGEL had at least 10 children. Eva died 29 Apr 1937 in Strasburg, ND leaving 9 children under the age of 14. She was buried in Saint Peter & Paul Cem, Strasburg, Emmons, ND. Two years later on 3 Nov 1939 in Strasburg, ND, her husband, Stephen, married the caretaker of his [deceased] wife and children, Clara RENSKERS, of Emmons co, ND, the daughter of Thomas and Cora RENSKERS. Please, please help me find info about any of the above! Contributed and Transcribed By Mary Kay Ward Article Source See More Articles From "Dakota Death Trip"