The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-22
DEATH DEALING FLUID.
TUO MEN hILLED IN LYNCHBUH0
BY ELECTRIC CHARGED WIRES.
4 Panic in Livery Stable Where Death
Seemed to Lurk In Every STALL
The city Enjoined.

LYNCHBURG. VA. May 2l.-Special.-
Two more victims were added 10 tie
deaths In Lynchburs from electricity at
all early hour this morning.
The men were Edmund Woodson and
George Smith (colored). ard the stable or
the Lynchburg Livery Company, on Com
merce street, was the scene Of the fear
ful accident
Electricity had been playing mad pranks
during the early hours or the night, and
about 3.3O o'clock one Of the wires IN
the stable blazed up Edmund WoOdsou.
| who was employed by Coniey Pollard d
| Co.. as "a driver went into a stall lu thc
| rear with bucket or water, ana. X u
supposed touched some bale VIE Nhcl
Was hanging down from q gas pipe, and
WAS shocked 10 de ath. George smith. au
! ola man employed as night Waterman.
! Witnessed the death OF WOooson, and
aroused the other stable hanos. ne
wires above were then biaMns, ana ne
went up stairs TO look after the IRE.
re was heard 10 cry out several times,
! ard be. too. was Killed.
A PANIC.
The stable hands were IA a panic when
Officer Tanner arrived. He sent for o
physician. the fire alarm Was turned H.
ana "a boy dispatched on horseback Tor
Mr. j. W. Mckinney, the manager of
the stables.
one Of the hremen went up stairs and
found Smith dead.
Coroner Blackboard was then notified
and had tho bodies removed 10 Diuguid's
undertaking establishment, where at
clock "a jury, composed Of Messrs W
n LiBsan. X. l.. Booker $. Y. Nc
Carthy, j. ". Gould. o. ST. Sutton. and
". u. Morgan, met TO inquire INFO the
matter
The jury. after viewing the bodies. met
in the room la the rear.
Or John Walker said be was summoned,
to the stable between 4 and 8 o'clock.
and when he arrived he found both men
dead.
GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION.
Winston Patrick an old coIored man.
who works az Hughes stable gave
most graphic description OF the scene
about the stable. A man called him at
o'clock De said. aud told him chat
something had happened across the street
Tie had htty one horses Up feed, ana as
soon as that was done Dee went over.
George smith Wuz er walkiu' round les
iuii 0y iHe,' he said. "and went up and
turned u Oodson over aud said. This man
am dead. 7 took a look az him. and said
that was a fact. Oar WIZ great sushes
of ieetrlciy comm cut al 'rouudi ! went
back 10 ds stable. but no sooner had [
started j hcrcd great cry across the
street, uI1 ID great Dig negro come out
George Smith deadI Great God. dat
cau.st Doe $50 dat de lghnm' is killing
,Dnybody.
Mr u. $ Hall. the electrician of the
LyuclJlrg Electric Company said. u
lfs opinion, the accident was caused py
ths lightning striking ,he transformer aud
throwing 1000 volts OBJ the iucauIeac.ut
wires. fe trplaluct that the current CONE
ing into the city is Loo volts. and the
Transformer reduces DO tD 90 volts for tho
lnrs noesceut service. Il addition. ht hat
noticed great many bale wires hanging
over tho gas pipe, which was close tO the
rIe.lri0 -li6At wires, and he Thought tnat
lu this way the current was C0mmuui-
Gated to the stall in which Wo0dsOn was
killed. The wiring had been examined
Uy thr insurance examiner several
months ago. and IN was found 10 Boz au
wight.
Clin Meade (colorcd told about George
smith reporting tO Him about the deatff
of Woods0n. lle threw some water ou
tlr fire. got shocked and left thc stable.
John Franklin. stable boy. told OF
tle body OF WoodsOn. and about George
smith going uu stairs.
CoEONERs JURY.
The jury decided -hat th.y could reach
nD conclusion without seeing the wiring
90 OBJ. stable. and proceeded 90 DO SD
it NH- noticed thtt tue wires rau rieht
along f-N -urles below Oh. old e.t
pipes ior tne entire length OF the stable.
lot of loose bale wire was hanein,, down.
/ George smith s. body was found about
slN feet from amy Wire llt IN WAS .uu-
posed that Dee had- Touched th- sire Or
gas pipe 100 one of tle posts. AS fo
whether the stable was Property wired
or uot the jury WAS unable q. decide.
'lA- p.1c, whore the connection was uIit,.
between the clectric-leht wine aud tn.
gus pipe was near the front of the stable.
aud the electricity tAen followed tine eas
pipe.
The jury decided that tle death of the
mon was due 90 electricity hlt whether
amy Individual or corporation WAS 10
blame the jury was unable 10 say.
DEED TO An ELECTRIC PLANT.
A decd of trust was recorded AT The
office ol the clerk OF the CORPORATION
Court to-day from tle Efcrmout Eirerri.
Company Co Charles 80. HackforI ..f
f.. $. kirhuatllrk. cousel lus tne cntlf.
property of the electric lighting piaut 90
secure The payment o. $4,000 a.p ou.
the plant to tue construction company.
Forty bonds of $1,000 each. DRAWN. e.
per cent interest," VIII be issued.
This decd is tue result of uu-atiou. Lv
which the city ot Lyuchhurs was eni1I.r'
from euartnt,cins the payment of $4,000
0f bonds ot tle NNefmout COMPANY
The matter IS low before Tic SuDrem,
Court
In.y.y ~ q lys. tTf.atA.t,s