Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1878-06-26
The Death OF Charles II. Rice.

III was heavy blow to the PEG
, pie of Alpena when they heard tn
news, last Friday afternoon, tina
; Charles Fl. Rice, of the firm of A. +
Fletcher & Co, had been caugh
, by shaft and killed. Few per
sous could at first realize the terri
BILE news, thinking that there wa.
some mistake, but when the sac
intelligence was established beyond
a doubt, it cast a deep gloom Over
the citizens. II seemed as If every
one had lost dear friend or rela.
tive, and expressions of sorrow and
regret were heard on all sides.
1t appears that little after din
ner, Friday, Mr.. Rice entered the
firm mill and observing a small boy,
by the name of Campbell, engag-
ed in putting a belt on pulley,
went to his assistance. Mr. Rice
was standing in a sort of alley,
about two feet wide and the same
in height, formed by two small
fixed frames, the alley being cross
ed by a small iron shaft, which,
when in operation, is said to re-
volve at the rate of 500 revolutions
per minute. On the shaft, near one
Of the frames, was what is termed
q set screw, the sharp square head
OF which protruded about an inch
from the shaft. As near as we can
ascertain, Mr.. Rice was standing
with his back to the shaft, and as
he stopped to put the belt on the
pulley, his coat tail was caught by
the screw and he was instantly
drawn around the shaft, which was
about eighteen inches from the
floor, and in that narrow space,
about two feet by a foot and half,
he was revolved by the shaft at an
immense velocity. The boy, who
was standing close by Mr.. Rice,
when he was caught, states that he
gave slight lurch, as if he was
conscious of being caught, and ex-
pected to get loose, but the next
moment he was dashed into eter-
nifty. The alarm was at once given,
and the machinery stopped, when
it was ascertained that the shaft
had torn all his clothes off-even to
his boots and socks, and he was
found to be torn in q fearful man.
ner-his head being nearly severed
from his body, and most of his
bones broken. The death must
have been almost instantaneous,
md excepting that one terrible
ceiling of knowing that he was !
going into eternity, he could not !
rave suffered much pain. e
The funeral took place last Sun !
lay, and was the largest and most
that has ever taken place e
n Alpena. Funeral services were
eld in the Congregational Church, e
7hich was crowded, and at least
wo or three hundred people were /
blieed to stay out doors, being r
Inable to get in. The sermon was .
delivered by the Rev. Mr.. Donnel- I
Y, and the prayer by the Rev. Mr.. Z
CATER. The church was beauti- h
lilly decorated with fowers--the =
lifts of friends, and on the coffin t
ere some very pretty floral crosses,
nd trowel formed principally Of y
ansies. 81
Mr.. Rice being member of the q
fasonic order, and an honorary IL
Iember of the Alpena Guards, was u
uried with Masonic and military $,
onors. The procession consisted a.
the Guards Band, Alpena Guards,
lie masonic order, hearse, and one
undred and thirteen carriages,
,ntaining the relatives and friends
the deceased, making process E
on over half mile long.
During the day, the figs in the
ty and on the vessels in the river, ne
ere displayed at half mast. U
In the death of Mr.. Rice, Alpena 81
rs suffer d a great loss-ono not Of
lsilyrepaired. His business quail pc
les, his integrity and sterling CO
ortb, had endeared him to his W
any friends, and made his loss a 4, A.
ibIic calamity. DO
Mr.. Rice is an cd settler of Al ~ ~
,na--one Of the pioneers that at
I'VE helped to build the place from Se
wilderness to its present flourish ag
z position, and the citizens did op
NOR to themselves by honoring se,
s remains. AT the time of his ou
'ath he was aged 42 years, 8 Iii
onths and 81 days, and had been
citizen Of Alpena for about nine bn
-. ,,b;,h tina he hos pa