Lewiston, Maine, USA
1900 - Wm. Reed's Tragic Death. A Horrible Fatality in a Lewiston Stable Friday Evening.

A Surcharged Incandescent Electric Light Wire Pours Forth Its Fatal Voltage.

The Poor Victim Found in a Pool of Water with the Sparks Playing About Him.

His Hand Burned to a Crisp and His Clothing Ready to Burst into Flame.

William Reed met a sudden and violent death in Lewiston early Friday evening. While attempting to light an incandescent electric lamp in the stable of Thomas McNamara on Lincoln street, he received an electric shock that sent him senseless to the floor. And there alone in the darkness his life quickly burned out. Presently, Mr. McNamara, who was near by, smelled the burning flesh and clothes and thinking his stable was on fire, had an alarm of fire sent in from box 35. Then followed an investigation which resulted in the finding of the body of the unfortunate man which was removed to the undertaking rooms of A. E. McDonough.

Reed is the second victim to be claimed in the two cities within a week by the deadly live wire. The facts in this last case are as follows.

Reed, who was employed by Mr. McNamara, returned to the stable shortly before eight o'clock with a team and drove at once inside, intending to put up the horse. That part of the stable where the stalls are located is lighted by a single incandescent lamp, supplied with a number of feet of wire, so it may be suspended from any part of the room. Although Mr. Reed was alone in the room at the time it is supposed he took hold of the wire to remove the lamp from a hook and
thus received the shock which caused his death.

It frequently happens when a person is the victim of a severe electric shock it is impossible to release the hold upon the wire, probably on account of the tenseness of the muscles. And so Mr. Reed, when he was felled to the floor, was not able to free himself from this fatal coil of wire. The current of over 2200 volts played through his body, first driving out the last spark of life and then burning to a crisp the flesh on the hands and arms, and finally igniting his clothing...

Superintendent Whitney then made a hasty examination of the wires and quickly found the cause of the fatality. The main circuit wire which feed the street lights became crossed with the wires of the Lewiston & Auburn Electric Light Company which feed the incandescents and throwing into them a voltage of something like 2250 volts, and the fact that Reed was standing upon planking wet from a tub of water near
by, made the conditions most favorable for receiving the full strength of the current.

The deceased was a native of Madrid, Me., and has lived in Lewiston for about a dozen years... He leaves a widow and child in Lewiston and a mother and brother in Madrid. He was 27 years of age.

Lewiston Saturday Journal
Lewiston, Maine
September 22, 1900

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