The Jasper weekly courier., 1875-04-02
A Horrible Suicide.

One of the most shocking cases of suicide
ever reported in this city, says the New
lord Herald, occurred Yesterday morning
in machine shop, at No. l63 Bank Street.
About 1890 O'Clock James McCulloch. a
plumber, working In the American Fire
Escape Works. corner OF Bank and West
Streets, went into the machine-shop, or,
more properly speaking. steam-power cs-
adjustment, at the number above stated,
which adolns the Fire-Escape Works. aud
requested of the foreman. Mr.. John Fris-
bic, to be allowed 10 sharpen a lead-scrap-
er. The privilege was accorded him, and
he proceeded 10 carry out his design, not,
however. until Frisbie had noticed num-
Der OF peculiar and somewhat idiotic move
ments on his part. About fifteen or twen-
~ minutes later all hands about the estab-
lishment were surprised at the sudden
stopping of the machinery. The engineer.
Frederick Randolph, at ouce projected TO
examine his engine, trying all the valves,
stop-cocks, etc, and spending from twen-
ty-iive 10 thirty minutes in the operation.
but falling utterly to ascertain the cause of
the interruption. Finally, however. he
went forward to the large cogwheel which
revolves the main shaft, and after peering
about a few minutes was Mortified at dis
covering a human head lying on the floor
beside the wheel. He called for assistance.
and having procured proPer lights prose
cuted the search, only 10 find that the
body OF a man. crushed between the cogs.
had caused the sudden interruption of
business,
Almost sickening sight was now brought
TO view. With the exception OF the head
and the legs, from the knee joint lewn.
there was nothing recognizable. Pieces of
81
OF them larger than mans hand; intes-
tines and masses of blood were scattered
In confused manner about the floor, the
machinery and surrounding fence. Itwas
iound impossible TO collect the pieces by
hand, and the aid of brooms and shovels
had to be invoked. the whole conglomcr-
ate mass being thrown intoa box aud SUBJ
seguently removed 10 the Morguc.
During the excitement attending the
horrible affair no one could, for time, as
certain who the unfortunate man was, but
Mr. Frisbie soon remembered the fact OF
the man McCulloch, before alluded to.
having entered the shop some time before.
aud then all was clear. That the man was
aooring under a temporary fit of insanity
..herecan be no question. and that while
n this condition he threw himself between
tle wheels is equally clear. All his actions
aa,Vut the establishment, Just previous 10
hls death, were those of an insane man.
), lhe large cogwheel is sixteen feet i'm
uialneter. and Is about fourteen inches
WIDE. This, as above stated, operates the
nam shaft which runs through into other
buildings where steam-power Is let for
planning and other purposes. Attached to
lhe cogwhee Is "A monster fly wheel,
twenty feet in diameter and weighing not
Iess than eight tons. Around this portion
% The machinery is built a board fence.
iour feet high. through which door or
gaze opens. This door is invariably kept
uosed and fastened with "button," bat
neither the engineer or foreman are posi-
I'VE as TO whether IL was closed or not
wnen search for the cause of the stoppage
vi The machinery was instigated.