The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-31
MET INSTANT DEATH
w. C. Keys Was Accidentally
Caught in Machinery.
WHIRLED TO HIS DEATH
Coroners Inquest to Be Held
at Ten O'Clock

Yesterday afternoon at o'clock there
occurred at the Dold Packing company
plant a very sad accident. Mr.. Charlie
Keys was in some manner caught in a
countershaft and instantly killed
The machinery of the large hoisting ele-
vator which lifts the hogs from the main
chute to the killing floor was being re-
paired. Master Machinist A. Wilson, as
sisted by Fred Campbell, was inserting a
U-bolt, and the machinery was stopped.
Both of the workmen had left the scat
folding and had gone down below in the
engine room At the foot of the stairs
Wilson met Mr.. Keys, the latter on mis-
way up to the box factory, where is To-
Gated the big drum of the elevator ma
chinery.
While all of the workmen were absent,
Mr.. Keys. simply for personal curiosity,
climbed up on the scaffolding to watch the
process of the work. He was all alone,
and just how ne got tangled up in the
revolving shaft no one can exactly say,
but from the appearance of the body and
the fact that his clothing was found
wound and wrapped around the north side
of the shafting, It is supposed that the fol-
lowing is the true explanation:
In the first place, his clothing which he
had on at the time was very loose, there
being a short coat and jacket unbuttoned.
and very easily caught. On the collar of
the countershaft is a set screw, and 1t is
almost certain that this screw, as the ma
chinery revolved caught in his clothing
and instantly wound him around the
shafting.
The noise of his striking the lumber Of
the scaffolding attracted the attention of
Mr.. William Eversole foreman of the box
factory, who at once gave orders to stop
the machine. 1t was too late, however,
as the counter-shaft in its natural capac-
ity was geared to speed of 14 revolu-
tons to the minute, and it being narrow
and close quarters his head struck either
the wall or the scaffolding at once, and
there can be no doubt but that he was
instantly killed.
Coroner McAilister and Undertaken
Mueller were instantly telephoned for and
responded at once; so also were his two
brothers, ]. B. and Ed Keys, both Mis-
souri, Pacific railway employees. The body
was remoed to the undertaking establish
ment of Mr. Mueller and the coroner sum-
moned a jury and they will render a de-
cision today.
Mr.. Keys did not belong in that depart
ment and had nothing whatever to do
with the repairs being made, and was
not authorized to be there, but solely on
his own responsibility he had gone there
to watch the process of repairing.
Mr.. Keys was about Syears of age.
and lived on the corner of Nineteenth and
Water. rooming there with Mr. A ]. Eric
son, also of the Dold Packing company
His mother resides in Eureka, and has
been telegraphed of the sad accident. He
has another brother insDes Moines Ia.
When he was taken from the machinery
mis- clothing was badly torn, showing that
the work had been done very quickly.
Mr.. Keys was very popular among :he
men and was of genial, good-natured dis
position and it was said Of him that he
always had a smile for everyone. He was
attentive and faithful to his duties and
had been with the Dold company seve:al
years. Before coming here he mad been
for some years on the ranches and ranges
of Arizona and knew stock thoroughly.
The Dold management did everything POS
sible as soon as the tragedy became known,
in the way of promptly taking care CT
the remains and notifying relatives ard
friends. Great sorrow is felt among the
large force of workmen at the plant over
the unfortunate and untimely end Of Ineir
comrade This is practically the only
fatality which has ever occurred at the
plant.