Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-12-11
FATAL ACCIDENT AT TAvoRA.

Mr.. w. F.. Downs, the we'll known
machinist at the Tavora cotton mill,
was instantly killed at about $50
o'clock yesterday morning by acciden-
tai contact with the $4,000 volts Of
electric current that supplies the pow
er to run the machinery Of the mill.
The accident occurred In the trans
former house at the mill Something
mad suddenly gone wrong, with the
current, and Mr.. Downs and Mr.. ]. T..
Ramsaur, the superintendent had spent
some time looking for the trouble. Af-
ter making several tests they tele-
phoned the Victor Oil mill, only a short
distance away on the same line, and
nnding everything all right there,
could come to no other conclusion than
that the trouble was in their own trans
.ormer house.
Superintendent Ramsaur and Mr.
Downs were in the transformer house
alone. They had opened and closed
switches and tried different wires.
Mr. Ramsaur had just started toward
the door leaving Mr.. Downs at the
transformer. There was kissing, pop
ping noise, and turning his head, Mr..
Ramsaur saw Mr.. Downs standing,
holding 2 wire overhead with his left
hand, and fire flashing at the point Of
contact with his hand and at his feet.
The unfortunate man was unable to
speak He was completely paralyzed
if not instantly killed.
Though almost transfiXed with the
horror Of the situation, Mr.. Ramsaur's
first impulse was TO rush to the as
sistance of his fellow worker and
friend; but just before what would
have been the last fatal instant, it oc
Cured to him that to touch Mr.. Downs
would only mean death to himself and
to no purpose. In another moment he
realized that the absolutely necessary
thing to be done under the circum-
stances, was to throw open the air
brake switch on the outside. This he
accomplished as soon as possible, and
with the current shut off, the body Of
Mr.. Downs dropped to the floor.
1t is very well understood among
electricians that in the case of an cleo
trio shock, even by a current as pow
erfu as $4,000 volts, it Is often possible
to bring about a complete resuscita-
ton. Mr.. Ramsaur, Mr. j. Y.
Lucas and others worked faithful
I,y ha nP
long is there was any reasonable
ground of hope; but without any en-.
cOuragement whatever There was
some muscular twitching during the
first few moments after the Interrupt
ton of the powerful current that was
passing through the unfortunate mans
body, but no sign Of returning life.
1t seems that there are two switches
near the point at which the current
from the main line enters the trans
former One is an air-brake switch,
just outside the transformer house, and
the other is an oil switch, just outside
the transformer With the air-brake
switch open the current is stopped
outside the transformer house, and
before it gets to the oil switch.
The oil switch is on the same
side Of the transformer and is in
the nature Of a double precaution
for the complete control Of the current.
Mr.. Downs was man who thoroughly
understood his business. In looking
fnr ha ha
ed both switches several times. A
probable cause of the trouble, was that
)ne Of the conducting wires had pulled
ooSe from its connection without
showing it's disconnection. Where the
wires were known to be live, their
condition would be tested with a
piece of wood. In case of certainty
that the outside switch was open, an
electrician would have no hesitation
about testing the wires with his hand
t Is believed that Mr.. Downs had for
gotten the status Of the outside switch,
and under the impression that it was
open, tested the wire with his hand.
Mr.. w. F. Downs, the victim of this
deplorable tragedy is from Fort Mill
He was about 40 years of age, and has
been the machinist at the Tavora mill
for several years. He was a man Of
nne intelligence, and excellent charac-
ter He was sober and industrious and
understood his business thoroughly.
He was held in high esteem by all who
knew him. He Is survived by his
mother and sister and leaves two
daughters.
There was an inquest by Coroner
Louthian and a jury yesterday and the
facts developed as to the tragedy were
about as described in the foregoing.
LOCAL lACONICS.