The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1909-10-22
4 SHOCKING ACCIDENT
A Electrician at the Power
| Plant Instantly
Killed.
|u|eHT IN THE MACHINERY
The Body Of the Unfortunate Man
Vas Carried Over Pullies and
Almost Ground to a Pu1ps

A frightful accident occurred at the
Smilkameen Falls Power plant last
Sunday morning at about 1l:30, by
which young man named Theodore
hman was instantly killed. No one
Witnessed the accident, although Mr..
Ninden, the chief electrician, was
within few feet of the unfortunate
victim, and saw only the ending of the
tragedy. From what can be learned
Tie plant had been shut down for the
day, and the two men were engaged
putting in new rope of the several
used in lieu of betting to drive the
dynamo. Power was turned on for a
hw minutes to note the working the
newly placed rope, and then the water
Ms again shut off. After the shutting
of Of power the wheels continue to re-
volve for some little time before they
come to standstill, and it was during
this exhusting momentum that the ac-
Gdent occurred. Mr.. Mindon. had
turned his back upon his assistant and
vas examining Il portion of the ma
chinery. His attention was attracted
hy dull humping sound, and turning
around was Mortified to see the body of
ne young man passing over the pully
Of the ropes operating the dinamo, and
drop to the floor below the one where
the men had been engaged at work.
Enman never uttered a sound, and
death must have been instantaneous.
The manner in which he was caught
N he revolving wheels can only be a
inter OF conlectura, but from the ar
rsngement of the plant, and his posi-
hon when last seen alive, it is sup
posed that he stepped upon the iron
base OF the generator, and having hob
nails in his shoes slipped against the
big pulley, which caught his clothing
and threw him upon the ropes that
drive the dynamo, and he was carried
around the pully. His right foot caught
10 some obstruction, and the leg was
torn from the body at the hip, dropping
70 the floor. The body continued on
the awful round, at last falling to the
lover floor, crushed and mangled to a
pulp. The room presented sickening
sight after the accident. There was
no reason whatever for the young man
going where he did, and it is hard to
Imagine what object he had in view
when he did so. 1t was one of those
unavoidable accidents that occur most
Unexpectedly to persons familiar with
tne premises and the equipment where
tney may be working.
The body was brought down to Oro-
vllle Sunday afternoon by Mar
snai Case and conveyed to the
Undertaking establishment of H..
>. Desmond, and the father of the de-
ceased, ID. A. Enman, living at Deer
Park, Spokane county, communicated
Win by wire. Under instructions an
em0almer was secured, and Mr.. En-
man arrived at this place Monday
evening. The remains were properly
prepared, placed in casket and the
sorrowing father returned to his home
Win the body Tuesday morning.
foung Enman had attended Pull
man college four years and had taken
Ine preparatory course in the electric
u department. He had had some six
months experience before coming here.
ne only entered on his duties at the
Falls Power plant some
lnree weeks ago. He did not haye
many acquaintances here, but those
VINO knew him best and worked with
nun at the plant speak of him as hav-
ng been pleasant fellow workman,
lnd bright and quick in his compre-
lenslon of the work he had selected to
0iiow. The deceased was only some
. years of age, and one of IA number OF
'nlldren in a family left to mourn his
'errible fate.