The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-30
HIS own CARtLESSNESS
Company Was Not to Blame
for Holman's Death.
AN INQUEST WAS HELD
Details of the Sad Accident Which Gut
Short the Young Mans Life.
There Were No Marks
on the Body.

The details of the sad accident by
which young Thomas Holman was
killed by an electric shock at the Ra-
rus mine night before last, were re-
cited by the witnesses examined at an
inquest held by Coroner Julien at
Richards undertaking rooms yester-
day afternoon.
Edwin Bray, the first witness, was
one of the blaeksmiths at work in the
shop. He said Holman was engaged
in trimming an arc light Immediately
in front of where witness was at work.
The shop had an earth floor and to
protect himself against a possible
shock, young Holman stood on piece
of board He was putting carbon in
the lamp as witness took pick out
of the fire. The point was quite blunt
and Holman evidently thought witness
would like to have a striker, for With
out being asked he left the lamp and
picking up the sledge hammer struck
few blows. He then returned to his
work at the arc light, and, though Wilt
ness was not certain, he felt sure Hol-
man took hold of the carbon before ne
had both feet off the ground. Instant
ly he Cried "Oh" and clasped his
would have fallen but for witness, who
ran out and caught him. in his arms.
Witness laid him down and called for
assistance. A message was sent to
Murray & Freund's hospital for ply
stefan, and in the meantime witness
and others used artificial means to In
duce respiration. Witness thought he
felt a couple of throbs of the heart
while he held the young man, but that
was all. DR.. Schwartz responded to
the call for a physician, but his serv-
ices were of no avail DR.. Schwartz
stated death was undoubtedly due to
the electric shock. Witness said the
light had a switch to shut off the cur
rent and he understood the switch was
turned so as to shut off the current.
A. j. Houston, also received shock.
He said he was in the blacksmith shop
when Holman received the shock. In
falling Holman started the lamp to
swinging and witness ran to stop 1t,
forgetting about the current. He was
shocked and knocked down and knew
nothing further concerning the sad
mishap
Claude Harness and Richard Thomas
were among those who rendered assist
ance in trying to resuscitate the young
man. Their testimony threw no new
light on the inquiry.
John J. Layton, the master mechanic
at the Rarus, told of examining the
lamp yesterday morning. He had been
informed the lamp had been left in
the same condition as when the acct
dent occurred. He found the switch
so turned as to cut the lamp out He
accounted for young Holman receiv-
ing the fatal shock by saying that he
did not believe the switch cut off the
whole of the current and the fact that
the ground floor had been sprinkled
and was quite wet rendered the cur
rent much more effective than 1t would
be under other circumstances. He
thought also that deceased might &C.
cidentally have partially opened the
switch when he was working at the
lamp. Witness could not account for
the fact that no mark was found on
deceased to show where he came in
contact with the current.
Lieutenant George Wedekind took
the stand and stated that he had
talked with DR.. Schwartz concerning
the fact that contact with the current
left no mark on the body. DR..
Schwartz had stated it was possible
for such thing to occur, as such cases
had been known.
The jury returned verdict in ac-
cordance with the facts and exoner-
ating the company operating the Ra-
rus from any blame.