Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-21
DEATH IN BOLT
FROM A LIVE WIRE
CLAIMS TWO MEN
Electrician and Clerk Stricken
in a Drug Store.
NARROW ESCAPE OF HELPER
Current of 2,4OO Volts Enters First
Victims Body.
PHYSICIANS WORK IN VAIN
Fatal Result of Attempt to Find Trou-
BILE in Store Lights Pathetic
Scene at Casualty Hospital.
NARROW ESCAPE OF HELPER
Current of 2,400 Volts Enters First
Victims Body.
PHYSICIANS WORK IN VAIN


drug store last night about 7
O'Clock. A third one narrowly es-
capped death and three others were
in danger. Those who were killed
were Waiter +. SOusa, an electri-
clan, and Harry y. Candee. who
was employed as head clerk in the
store Claude Berger, brother-in-
law of Sousa and helper in the
employ OF the Potomac Electric
Power Company, came near losing
his life when he went to the assist
ance OF SOusa.
Trouble was experienced with the electric
light wires in the drug store of Lewis
Flemer. Maryland avenue, eth and ID
streets northeast last night and it became
necessary to send word to the office of the
electric light company to have repairmen
sent there to make an investigation. Elec-
trician Walter F. Sousa, who is a Of
George b. Sousa brother of John Philip
helper. Claude Berger, his brother-in-law,
to ascertain the cause of the trouble and
to remedy it. Sousa and his brotther-n-
law, the latter being seventeen years Of
age, went to the cellar at tn, drug store
and did some work. going to the store
afterward. They found trouble with the
drop light in the window on the D street
side of the store the light being used in one
of the large colored bulbs which are so
extensively used in drug stores. This bulb
Is near the soda fountain in the west end
of the store and in order to reach it the
electrician had to take osition near the
side of the counter at the fountain. Mr..
Candee was standing behind the counter
when Sousa started upon the work OF
examining the feed wire and electric bulb
Electrician Suddenly Stricken.
Young Berger was standing in front of
the counter waiting for orders and Miss
Hermann, the cashier, was at her desk on
the opposite side of the store. Suddenly
the electrician fell backward. and Mr. Can
dee reached over the narrow space to as
sist him and release his hold upon the wire
or connection through which he had re-
ceived =, 400 volts. Sousa was released and
he fell to the floor toward the front of Inc
counter, MIR. Candee falling behind the
counter.
Berger was thoroughly frightened at the
sight of the two men falling, but he real
lied what had occurred. and ne hurried TO
the assistance Of his brother-in-law. He
reached to get the pliers from his pocket
to cut the wire, but the static electricity
shock. which caused him to shout to the
clerks In the store: cut off the current at
the switch"
George $. Webb. one of the clerks rushed
TO the basement and turned the switch
Berger, learning that the current had been
cut on, grabbed at the shirt of his brother
in-law. tearing part OF 1t from him. He
then did the best he could to save Sousa.s
life. working his arms and moving his
body He remained there until the arrival
of the ambulance from the Casualty Hoe
pital. and then he went to that institutton
Walter" he shouted when he entered
the room where the dead body was r.s,,nc,
upon a stretcher. and then he gave wav
and had TO be assisted from the room Hi,
condition was such that one of the phy-
sicians had 10 give him treatment.
''I-ow Can Tell Sisterp"
How can tell my sister," he moaned q
number of times. Il can't tell her an,
Walter was so good friend of mine"
George ). Webb was not a great distance
from the place where the accident occurred
when the lives Of the two men were so sud
oehIy plotted out. He was behind the pre-
scHpion counter, however. and was unable
10 see just what was going on. The first
he knew Of anything wrong having hap
va txh.,, L..
made by the electrician. Then Miss Har-
mann screamed. and the clerk ran IN ssa
what was the cause OF the trouble He
realized what had happened and no 70
sponded 10 the appeal of the boy that so-oo
body go TO the cellar and turn 90, ~,
switch. When he had turned off tho o,,.
rent at the switch he returned to IN. s.oro
and. with Mr.. Spre, the other clerk w.,
TO the assistance of Sousa and Candsc An
they could do was to summon phvs,c,.,.
and the ambulance.
A rapid run was made by the ambulance.
10 the hospital. but the two men were nrac-
tically dead when the institution was
reached. The members of the hospital staff
Drs. Sweeney, kennedy, Sullivan and Beis>
eel, worked over Sousa and Candee for
more than an hour. Finally the physicians
gave up their efforts at saving the lives of
The two men and notified Acting Coroner
Glazebrook. DR.. Glazebrook viewed the
bodies later in the night and will take I'D
The investigation OF the accident today. II
q likely that he will hold an inquest at the
morsue tomorrow morning.
Woman Clerk Frustrated
a large crowd of curious persons gath
ercG about the store shortly after the ac-
cIdent happened and remained there until