Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-26
DEATH BY THE WIRE
THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT IN
veSTIGATEO BY THE CORONER.
Two Of the Fingers Burned By the Electric
Currsnt-The News Carried to the
Family by the Dispatch.

The funeral Of Lewis j. Hughes. the
young man who was killed about 2 O'Clock
| yesterday morning at the power-house OF
the Richmond Railway and Electric Com
pany. on Johnson's Island. will take place
from Park-Placs Methodist church this
afternoon at 4 o'clock.
The first news OF the terrible accident
| that reached the family OF the deceased
was carried BY the DISPATCH, which pub
lished an exclusive account of the unfor-
tuna.e occurrence. Hughes was III his
22d year and resided at No. 423 south
| Laurel street. He was unmarried and
leaves q widowed mother. who wa'
entirely dependent upon him tor
support, and four sisters aud q
brother. The latter, Mr.. Charles j.
Hughes. il a popular printer and Is en-
ploycd by Mr.. James Il. Goode. The de-
ceased was an exemplary young men and
bad been employed by the company Tor
| tho past two years. His duty was 10 OIL
the dynamos-a task which requires the
closest attention and as he attended
| strictly to his business his brother work
men were but slightly acquainted with
him. The young mans LIE was insured
tor $500.
no NEED or AN INQUEST.
tOIOlfA u ~ ~ 4 bAAl " NAN'I
shortly after the death of Hughes and
made "A careful investigation OF the cir
cumstances connected with the &c
cident. He soon ascertalned That 1t
would be unnecessary to hold an inquest.
but as Hughes Is the first man who was
ever killed. IN Richmond by an ARTIFICIAL
| electric current the Coroner thoroughly
acquainted himself with the facts OF his
demise. He found. after careful examine
go chat tH.rn .unrn furn hFIFnZ ON fnA
third and fourth fingers OF the dead mans
hand. these removed only the skin and
were not deep. In fact. the wounds were
hardly percsptiblc. but a close Inspection
revealed the fact that the edges OF the
skin were slightly blackened. Ihe brother
of the deceased SAYS that there was also u
small burn on tho thumb.
When DR.. Taylor saw tho corpse the
eyes were shut, the mouth slightly opened.
and the face pale and somewhat con,
vulscd. Tho body was greatly relaxed and
cool.
HFAyILY-CHARGED MACHINE.
The machine at which Hughes met his
| death was a Fort Wayne dynamo working
the street lights and capable OF 4,OJO-
| volts power. II IL estimated by Nr. lrat-
ford, the superintendent of the plant.
| that the deceased received over 3,010 volts.
| Death must have been almost lnstanta-
neOuS, as l.jO3 volts are suilcleut 10 KILL
| though from 1000 to 5000 are used for
electrocutlon. The unfortunate man Is
| supposed 20 have effected "A short circuit
| between himself and the dynamo, making
| conducts by the Oll-can al ono point n
with his hand IN some other portion.
whereby the current went through his
breast. The machine, at the time OF the
| accident. gave sounds indicating that the
| dynamo was performing q circuit.
Nhile DR.. Taylor was examining the
| machinery be th0ughtlessly touched the
wire which is supposed to have caused
IIughes's death, but no evil results fol-
lowed.
PREPARED FOR BURIAL.
Some hours after the demise Of the
young man his remains were sent to Chris
tlan's undertaking establishment, where
they were prepared for burial PRIOR to
being carried home.
Tie news Of Hughes's death was q terri
bic shock 10 his relatives. IL Is sad that
they were not informed Of the accident
sooner because the operators at The
pOwer-h house hesitated to convey the news
SO suddenly and at a time when 1t would
have been necessary TO arouse the family
from their sleep.