The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-09-08
LOUIS EICHER'S
SHOCKING DEATH.
Fuller Particulars Concerning
the Distressing Accident.
woRKMEN WERE FRUSTRATED
When They Saw What Had Happened =
Account of the Accident That Was
Briefly Mentioned in a News
Democrat Extra.

accident which deprived Louis Eicher
of his life at the Berger Manufacturing
Co., shops Wednesday afternoon. The
strong nerves of the witnesses were no
proof against the sickening nausea pro-
duced by the horrible sight, and the
death of Mr.. Eicher, who was well
known and we'll liked by his fellow
workmen cast a depressing gloom over
the spirits of the employees for the rest
of the day.
Mr. Ernest Hilgendorf, of 1131 Plain
street. who was operating the press,
was almost Frustrated by the unfortu-
nate affair, and was dazed for some
time by the dreadful death OF his
friend. Mr.. Hilgendorf made the fol-
lowing statement to a News-Demo-
crat reporter:
well, can hardly explain how ithap-
pened, for it was all done so suddenly
and 1 am yet so bewildered and sick
! that 1 can hardly speak 'ntelligently
about it. Mr.. Eicher was my helper
and it was his duty to place the sheets
of metal in proper position upon the
| lower die. 1t was my duty to operate
the machine, and, as was the general
order and custom, as soon as he stepped
back from placing the sheet of metal
in position, pulled rope, thus releas-
| ing the immense trip hammer sus-
pended above the die. The machinery
had not been working smoothly all day,
and after he had stepped back and 1
| ho1 Oh aI 20 bn
ed upward to attempt to see what was
the difficulty with the machinery. He
must have seen some disarrangement of
the sheet after he had stepped back
| from placing it in position, a I'D think
ing l had not yet pulled the rope, he
bent over the die to fix it. AS soon as
1 pulled the roTe looked down to the
die again and noticed his position. i
shouted a warning to him and immedi-
| ately reversed the machinery, but it
was too late for the machinery moves
very swiftly, and the descending ham
mer struck him in the back of the
| head. The hammer is of emo nous
his skull as easily as an egg shell. 1t
was all over so suddenly and produced
such shock, have not yet get things
lstr2ightene out" i
When a News Democrat reporter
| reached the scene the body was lying
upon the ground covered with a cloth,
and the brains and life-b blood Of tie un-
fortunate man were spattered out upon
the ground. The cloth when raised dis
closed the head crushed together in
front and back, although the face was
not as badly mutilated as could have
been expected. AS soon as the accident
occurred telephone call was sent to
DR.. R. A. Biechele, of 1928 South Cleve-
land avenue, and the doctor Immediate
ly hastened to the scene. Mr.. Eicher
was still breathing and continued to
breath for about fifteen minutes after
the Doctors arrival. or about one half
hour after he was struck. The doctor
gave the following information to the
reporter.
Il received the call about 2:30 o'clock,
ana Immediately drove at great speed
TO the works, arriving there in about
htteen minutes. The man was still
alive and continued to breathe for
ABOUT ntteen minutes. But he did not
surfer any for his brains had been
forced from his skull upon the floor
consequently the seat of pain was gone.
or course 1t was impossible to revive
MIN and death was only a matter of a
very short time. The head was not
crushed between the die and hammer.
put the hammer, descending, caved in
the posterior position of the skull. and
forced the head and body down with al
most incalculable force. The portion of
the skull striking the lower die was
mashed in and forced back and the
brains and blood poured out from the
openings. AS l said, death was not in
stantaneous, but it was so far as his
praln and seat Of feeling was concern
ed. 1t was one of the most sad and
terrible accidents that ever came to my
notice." '-'
Coroner Schuffel when seen bv a re-
porter said: II will hold an inouest
over the remains as soon as it is pos
sinle Tor me to do so, and of course un-
I'll then l can render no verdict or
opinion"
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENT.
The remains were taken in an ambu-
lance to Schilling's morgue, where they
were Kept over night. Mr.. Eicher was
born in Germany 81 years ago, and came
to this country to Cambridge. O.. ahout
seven years ago, removing to Canton
IN May last. He leaves one brother in
Minnesota, and three sisters, two broth
ers and his aged mother in Gersweiler
Rhine Prussia, Germany. He belonged
to the Arion Singing society, and the
society VIII sing at the funeral He was |
a member of the Berger aid society and
this society will have charge of the IN
neral which will take place Friday at |
o'clock from his boarding place No,
SUI pennsylvania avenue.
The remains will be inferred in West |
avn cemetery, and the Berger en- |
ployes will attend.