The book that Im reading is PHINEAS CAGE it is based on a true but nasty story that happened in his accident happened in September 13, 1848 he and his crue where in the process of blasting a railroad right of way through granite bedrock. A spark flies onto the exposed blasting powder and then BLAM!!!!! the drill hole acts as a gun barrel, instead of a bullet it fires Phineas's rod straight upward . The pointy side of the rod goes through his left cheek bone and comes out his forehead.