“Singular Accident. — A person named Duncan, who had just arrived at St. Louis from Louisville in the 16th inst., was walking up from the steamboat to the place where he was designed to lodge, when he was observed suddenly to fall, and when he was raised by the bystanders, it was found that one of his legs was broken a few inches above the ankle, and the flesh also severed half off as if done by the blow of an axe. If did not cause him much pain at first, and he stated that he could assign no reason for the accident except that he had borne more of his weight upon that leg to relieve a weakness he felt in the other, and he heard the bone crack as he fell.”

Milwaukee Daily Sentinel
April 14, 1845, page 2