Evening star., 1896-07-06
Little Edward Handler Instantly
Killed This Morning.
WIRES CONCEALED In GRASS
A Pole Had Fallen and Was Left
There.
AN IN We S IG Att On

Full of life and be yish enthusiasm, Ed
ward Handler "a lad eight years Of age.
arose from the breakfast table at his
home, southeast corner Of 18th and n
streets. at just s o'clock this morning and
started out with several companions for a
morning play and enjoyment The group
of children proceeded to a deep ravine,
through which flows Rock creek. just one
square north of Eddie's home and directly
south Of the p street stables of the Met
ropolitan Railway Company, and stopped
at a spot where a base ball diamond is
laid out. This site has long been the play
ground for the children of the neighbor-
hood, and the little folks this morning
were about to choose sides for game of
base ball when suddenly EddieHamdler fell
to the ground and began writhing in ap-
parently great agony.
The companions of the little boy were
natula ally frightened at the happening and
most Of them fed from the spot. The
lads parents were just finishing their
morning meal when little girl rushed into
the house. saying, Come quick; some
things the matter with Eddie" The ia
ther of the latter rushed to the hollow ami
found his son lying stunned, SO 1t seemed,
in the grass. The senselcS form was car
ried to the home Of the boy and DIR. Nc
Kaig summoned. The latter on arrival de-
cided at glance thai life was extinct and
two frightful burns, one on the spine and
the other on the hand told more plainly
than words that electricity had ended an
ether life. Just ten minutes after Eddie
left home in such happy spirit his life
less body was carried through the door
way and cheerful household changed to
che OF sorrow and gloom.
Policeman Thomas H. 0ualls, WHO was
u ho Iva nf Sha 4
In his report said: Death was the result
Of en- electric light pole that, falling down.
left the wires exposed and made it
extremely dangerous" The pole men
toned Is the property of the United States
Electric Lighting Company, and was sit
uated but few yards off the bank of
ROCK creek. directly on the play ground.
From some cause not yet plain the pole
had toppled over and the fall had severed
the wires previously supported by 1t.
These wires were party covered by the
grass. and, unconscious Of the hidden
danger. little Eddie Handler this morning
stepped on a live end and as quickly as
flash his earthly career was at an end
Those who visited the spot later expressed
surprise that several other children were
not killed.
A Star reporter who made Inquiries at
the office Of the United States Electric
Lighting Company was informed that the
company is ignorant of the cause of the
fall of the pole, and Possesses no idea of
the time that the wires were severed
Several persons who reside in the locality,
however, state that the pole has been down
for several days.
Shortly after the accident gang of
men were sent out by the company the
pole raised by them and the wires spliced.
A representative of the company also Wis
lted the parents of The dead boy and Of
fered to aid them in any way possible
The offers We're declined, and there is no
doubt that suit to recover damages will
be instituted against the owners of the
wires.
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook was In at
tendance at an inquest this afternoon, so
that NO official investigation of the killing
OF the Handler boy has as yet been made.
mere Is no doubt however, that an in
quest to determine the responsibility for
the death will follow