St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-09-03
THE FATAL FLASH.
Supt. William Brockway Instantly
Killed by Electricity.
Another Electric Light Fatality
Several Serious Accidents Elsewhere.

The deadly electric light wire last even
ing again claimed victim, and strange to
say, the man killed was one who, as an ex-
pert, gave testimony at the coroner's in
quest over the body of John Kane, who
was killed at Pray & Robinson's mill
month ago while fixing light. The Mil
waukee ticket office. No. Nicollet house
block, has been undergoing repairs, and
yesterday morning, while papering, the cleo
tric lamp was taken out and the wires re-
moved Late in the afternoon William
H. Brockway, the superintendent of the
Brush company, accompanied by Richard
Seaman. his helper, went to the office and
began putting back the wires and rehang-
ing the lamp. Previous to touching the
wires Mr.. Brockway, Mr.. Seaman says,
went to the telephone, called up the electric
light works and told them not to turn on
the current until he called them up again.
About 6:35 Mr.. Brockway was on the in
side of the building, holding in his left hand
the electric wires, which Seaman was push
ing in from the outside. Mr.. BrOckway
had hold of the lamp with his right hand
and was preparing to attach the wires when
there came sudden and slight flash, and
Mr.. Brockway dropped to the floor beneath.
Turning on his back he gasped:
''Send fer decter."
AS he uttered these words his head
dropped back and he lay dead. A physician
was Immediately called and the body re-
moved to the morgue. The only mark to be
seen on it is an ugly burn in the palm of
the left hand, when he held the wires. The
current did not pass from the body as it did
in the case Of John Kane Mr.. Brockway
was a single man OF perhaps "a years of
age, and has been superintendent of the
Brush Electric company in this city for four
years past, and was one of the beSt-known
electricians in the Northwest, and previous
to his coming here was connected with the
company headquarters. He boarded at the
Parker house, where he was highly es-
teemed.
Fred Huntington, a ticket seller in the
office where the accident occurred, saw Mr..
Brockway fall, and rushing to the counter
heard him gasp out the words: ''Send for a
doctor'' Then the lips of the unfortunate
man closed forever.
The men at the works, when the current
was turned on, refused to say anything in
regard to the affair. When asked if Mr..
Brockway had not telephoned there and
told them not to turn On the current until
he ordered them to, the answer returned
was:
1--WE knew nothing Of the matter here
until we heard that Mr.. Brockway was
dead. 1t is very sad affair, and we don't
know hardly what to do"
The name of the man who turned on the
current is Charles Gatewood. He is
colored man who has been with the COM
pany some time and is considered very
careful man. ''There has been terrible
mistake somewhere" said one of the men
at the works when reporter called, but
just where it is we do not know" The
coroner will endeavor to ascertain to-day.
OTHER SERIOUS ACCIDENTS.
Johnnie Mcclure, ten-year-old orphan
boy, was run down by Milwaukee train at
the Eleventh avenue crossing about noon
yesterday. In avoiding passenger train
he stepped upon another track and was cut
down by passing freight train. Both legs
and one arm were completely severed from
his body. He was taken to st. Barnabas
hospital where Drs. Freeman, Quinby and
Van Cleye attended him. Last night he was
resting easily, with prospects of recovery.
His widowed mother lives at 1109 Fourth
street south.
A twelve year-old son of August Drew,
living on the lower flats, had all the fingers
OF one hand taken off at the Northwestern
barrel factory yesterday afternoon.
John Bush Of 407 Twentieth avenue
south grew dizzy yesterday and received
dangerous fall in the dome of the EXPOSE
ton building. One arm was fractured and