The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-07
William HOughtOn Killed
at COrliSS Works.
Caught Hold of a Crane
Charged With Electricity.
He Was a M0ulder and Was About
to Move Some Work.

William Houghton, aged about 80 years,
met his death at the Corliss steam engine
works at $50 O'Clock last evening W lille
in the performance of his duties as a
moulder. DIR. Palmer stated late last
night that there were strange circumstan-
ces connected with the affair and after
viewing the body he directed the police
at the Second Station to notify Coroner
Lincoln and this was promptly done.
H~ougbton had just set. up q job OF work
and in order to move ii he took hold OF
an iron chain that was attached to a
crane or derrick operated by electricity.
He had the chain in his hands scarcely a
second when he dropped to the ground
and when one OF his fellow employees
named Edward Horton, who saw him
throw up his hands, reached him. though
Horton came quickly, he was dead.
Overseer Clark Green'of the moulding
department at once notified the police
and word was sent to Medical Examiner
Palmer. When the latter arrived he made
an investigation into all the circumstan-
ces OF the case and examined the body OF
the unfortunate man. He found no sign
that showed where the electric current
had come in contact with the man, though
his body was black n his flesh very
hard.
Several instances were given the medi-
cal examiner of shocks received by work.
men from the cranes used in the shop, and
one particular case OF an employe who
yesterday afternoon was doing a similar
act as Houghton, and was held by the
chain a prisoner, though he tried hard to
drop it. until the power was shut OF. In
view of these statements. DIR. Palmer made
up his mind that the circumstances We're
such as would justify his calling on the
coroner to nike a thorough investigation
of the case. AS before stated, he notified
the police OF the second Station and he
also requested Lieutenant Murray to keep
a police officer at the crane where the
man died until the coroner arrived. This
request was complied with.
Coroner Lincoln arrived in due time
and after hearing what those in charge
of the works had TO say he determined to
investigate the case and as q preliminary
act sent an electrical expert to the place
this morning. A post mortem examina-
tion was determined on and the body
was temporarily placed in the custody OF
undertaken Horace Il. Knowles.
The crane is necessarily a very large
iron structure, for 1t has heavy work to do
and on the side of it Is a switch board,
the electricity entering the crane through
its upright.
The Narragansett Electric Company
furnishes the power and it is brought into
the building by wires which do not come
in contact with the cross bar of the crane.
Houghton, 1t Is stated, stepped on some
sand in order to reach the chain and this,
of course, the crane being charged, com
pleted the electric current. The victim
OF the accident resided at 5S Veazie street,
and leaves n widow and six children.
whose ages vary from six to Is years. lie
had been an employe at the works for
about t~wenty-fear years and he leaves
many friends to regret his sudden taking
of. He was an Englishman by birth and
a member of tho Order of the ons of ST.
George.
The excessive dampness OF yesterday,
effects, is held responsible for the charg-
ing of the crane with electricity though
those in charge Of the works are other
wise unable to account for the strange
fatality.