The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-04-30
BLOWN TO HIS DEATH
William Herbert Coulson
Killed By an Explosion
Of Chemicals.
EXPERIMENTING In His KITCHEN
! Mysterious Stranger Who Has
Disappeared Was With Him
at the Time.

A mysterious explosion which resulted
in the loss of a life occurred at No. "
Oak street, about half-past eleven o'clock
last night. The unfortunate person who
lest his life in the interests of science
was William Herbert sCoulson.
Last evening Mr.. Cculson came home til
supper in a happy frame of mind. He
was delighted with the idea OF spending
the evening with his chemicals. Later
friend from Bergen P5int called at the
mousse, and inquired for Mr. Coulson. He
was Shown into the kitchen where tnat
gentleman was bending over his table
watching pot of chemicals. The do9l
was closed and the two inen remained
inside. The family We're seated in the
front room talking and reading They
had no thought of danger. as Mr. Coulson
had been engaged in this kind OF work
t2r good many years, and they knew
MN to be e. very careful man.
Suddenly from the kitchen came a d9ll
sound, which shook the house from roof to
foundation Following this shock came a
second. as Of the falling Of a body Mrs.
she saw her husband lying on the foor
gasp1ng for breath, while his friend was
staggering blindly about the room she
dren FASTENED to their mothers side.
By this time Patrolman Gallagher, of the
Fourth precinct, who was passing ths
entered the room. Taking in the sitlSa-
ton at q glance, ne sent one of the ehii-
dren for Or Or. Blanchard on Madison ave
nue.. When the doctor arrived the unfor-
tunate man had ceased TO gasp. and lay
stlll upon the floor. DR.. Blanchard made
shasty examination and pronounced the
man dead. The body was removed TO
the bedroom.
The whole affair is shrouded is nlys-
terry No trace of any chemicals, which
found, and the wound which was inflicted
on the groin in the right side Is a cash as
if made by some sharp instrument.
Mr.. CCulson has been engaged in max
years, and had never met with an acci-s
dent before, He has always been most
not feel the slightest apprehension When
he proposed the experiment last night.
As far as can be learned, the only
reason he had for making the test was
for MS own amusement and 10 pass the
evening.
Mrs. Coulson, the widow of the unfor-
tunate man was seen this morning She
said she was at a loss to know how the
explosion occurred or as to what chemi-
Gals her husband had been using All
she was able to remember was the shock
Of the explosion and the falling Of her
husbands body. Her husband, she said,
had always been most careful N his
experiments and the last thing she had
any idea OF happening was the fatality,
WHICH occurred iaSt nlght.
- Mr. Cou1son has the reputation at the.
place he is employed of being careful,
sober and Industrious man. His fond
ness for solving scientific problems is
well known.
There is considerable mystery about the
man from Bergen Point who got away
without leaving his name and the police
are looking for him.
Mr.. Coulson was born in Canada in
1861. He was employed as superiGtend-
ent of T. w. Weathers Sons, green house
builders. on Orient avenue near West
Side avenue.