The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-05
BY A FULL CURRENT
Charlie McMinn Killed By Electricity
at the Power House.
1T WAS DONE IN AN INSTANT
No One In the Building at the Time
But j. w. Frush and the Unfor-
tunate Young Man-Result
of Carelessness

Charlie McMinn was instantly killed
yesterday morning at the power house
of the Anaconda Electric company by
an electric current. With James w.
Frush, he was in charge of the plant
there during the early morning hours
They were the only persons about the
building and were working together,
both receiving the shock, which knock
ed Frush insensible for some minutes
and killed instantly his companion.
Frush was insulated by his position
on board but McMinn, standing on
the cement floor, received the full effect
or the current, which amounted to at
least 1.50O volts and possibly more.
Acting Coroner ]. NJ. Kennedy i'm
paneled jury and held an inquest up
on the remains at which James Fr,Ish
gave the following testimony, which
narrates all the circumstances of the
unfortunate affair:
'McMinn and / were working to-
gether trimming an arc light. 1 had
my right hand on the lamp and my
left was hanging by my side. McMinn
was standing behind me with the carbon
candle. He must have touched me
with his hand or with the carbon, but
L did not know ii. / suddenly became
unconscious, and the first knowledge /
nave OF what occurred is that / was
lying on the floor and unable to do
bul uODtT. Il shouted ana Strug-
gled TO get to my feet, but for a time
was unable to do so. 1 tried to think
what had happened, and my first idea
was that lightning had struck the
house. l saw McMinn lying near by
and rolled over to touch him, but he
ala not move. When I managed to
stagger out OF door I got some snow
which I rubbed on my face and took
a handful In the house and rubbed II
on McMinn. He did not revive, so I
went to the house and called the fore
man.
Before started to trim the lamp
looked at the clock and II was a little |
after o'clock, but I cannot remember |
how much. When I called the foreman |
he said II was after o'clock, so think |
j was unconscious fully three-quarters |
of an hour.
I'm trimming the lamp I stood on a
board. as we have orders to do always |
when handling the lamps with the cur
rent turned on. There are boards pro-
vided for this purpose. It Is custo-
mary for us to trim the lamp with the |
current on, and we were always in
structed as to the danger. There is no
danger unless a connection with the
down and get the carbon, but McMinn
got II. Gid not ask HIM TO do so, and
did not expect him to touch me-"
superintendent G. r. Holmes testified
that the accident was caused by
carelessness in trimming the arc light
with the current on. There is no danger
In this work II ordinary precautions are
taken. The men must not stand on the
ground when doing IT. Everyone in the
institution has received these instruc-
tions. II they stand on a board the
lights can be trimmed without trouble.
there has been no trobule heretofore. |
A board is provided for each arc light
and have trimmed the lamps myself |
"McMinn had been in our employ two
years ago, and this time had been six
weeks at the power house."
w. B. Holmes and Thomas McMinn.
brother of the deceased, also testified
the latter to the effect that his brother
was born In County Tyrone Ireland.
was 25 years of age, unmarried. and
had no other relatives in this city. A
cousin lives in Idaho.
The verdict that the said Charles
McMinn came to his death accidentally
through negligence on his own part" :
vas signed by w. P. Kenny, foreman:
I. w. Orsewell, o. H. Haven, Maurice !
Harris, Claus Oldhauber and ]. Green. !