The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-12
LIVE WIRE KILLS
WILLIE WATKINS
Small Negro Boy Has the Life
Shocked Out Of Him.
WIRE DOWN FOR HOURS lou
Two Thousand Volt Wire Fell at Corr
ner Of Cary and Washington Streets
Yesterday-R ena,ns Down Long
Time and Kills Small Lad.

Instantly and without warning the life
was shocked out Of Willie Watkins
oolored boy. about eight or nine years OF
age yesterday afternoon at the corner
of washington and Cary Streets by 1--we
wire, charged with some 1900 odd volts
OF death-dealing electricity. Tho accl-
dent happened shortly after 4 o'clock.
several hours after the wire had fallen
to the ground, and after hundreds OF
thoughtful people had passed and summed
IT. From the moment OF the unhmeiy
death of the lad until 6 o'colck, as he
lay in the mud of the dirty thoroughfare,
his heart having long since ceased palpl-
tating. hundreds OF curious braved the
wind and rain in order to get glimpse
Of the PROSTATE form.
With the exception of an ugly burn on
the right hand between the thumb and
the foretinger and the charred palm OF
the same limb, the little fellow looked
almost as natural as he did In life.
The live wire which dangled from the high
pole. and which was responsible for the
death of the lad dropped to the ground
shortly after noon, and witnesses state
the Passenger and Power Company was
less than half an hour after the accident
the broken part had been mended and
was again suspended high above the
ground out of reach of all pedestrians.
Superintendent Traford, Of the light
department Of the company, stated to a
reporter of The Times that the wire which
caused the death of the boy was an al
terr1ating light current wire. charged
with about 1000 volts Of electricity. He
added that !. was estimated that from
14oo to 1,700 volts would produce instant
death. but stated that SO far as he was
aware the company had received no no.
tice about the wire having fallen from
the pole. 1t was one of Tie wires that
supplies light for Reservoir Park.
CORONER NOTIFIED.
Coroner Taylor was notified of the kill
ing Of Watkins shortly after It occurred,
and in a very short time he was upon
the scene With an officer pushing siren
uous investigation into the facts. and try
ing to place the responsibility. After
hearing from q half dozen or more wit
nesses he concluded that an inquest
would be necessary to fix the blame IN
the right place, and therefore ordered ell
OF the witnesses to appear at the Third
Police Station this morning at II O'clock,
It which time the Investigation Will be I'M
uei tah MIL "A july VIII DS elnpdNllclleu IN
the meantime.
From facts adduced by the coroner II
would appear that before noon yesterday
the wire showed signs of falling. con-
tinually giving forth sparks Of fire.
Later it fell to the ground. and for a
long time no one was permitted to go
near it. people in the neighborhood taking
1t upon themselves to watch the wire
and warn people to keep their distance.
Shortly after o'colck Mr.. L. J. Guver-
nator, citizen. who resides just across
the street. teleplloned the lighting depart
ment of the Passenger and Power Com
parly, telling them of the dangling wire
An hour and one-half later. according
to statements of other witnesses, Willie
Watkins. a negro lad, entirely too young
to know the danger of electricity and
loose wires, turned into Cary Street from
Washington. He was en- route to his
home in the rear Of No. 1905 West Main
| Street. and little imagined the danger
| upon which he was approaching. He saw
| the dangling wire. and. child like, his Gu
riosity was aroused. He advanced to the
| pole from which it was hanging and un-
fortunately no one happened to be no
ticing him at the time with the exception
of James Boyle. who looked up Just In
time to give a cry Of horror.
The boy had grasped the wire and It
| was too late. He fell to the street, some
three feet from the sidewalk. and when
| assistance reached him life was extinct.
After lying In the street for two hours
| or moro, the damp and dirty body was
| removed to the undertaking establishment
Of Bennett whore it will be prepared for
burial. This will take place tomorrow