Killed
by a Live Wire
A most shocking and
regrettable accident occurred on Monday morning about 11.30 o'clock by
which Mr. Henry Swift met sudden death.
The
barn at the rear of Wilcox's old furniture store was being torn down
and two disused telephone wires cut from the line darn fell across the
service wires of the electric light system, which carried 4000 volts.
Mr.
Swift, who was helping Mr. Harry Martin load the lumber from the barn,
came around the corner and seeing the wires in the way, picked them
up, death resulting instantly.
Mr.
Swift was born in Boston nearly 65 years ago, where he lived till
moving to Villa Nova from which place he moved to Waterford about 18
years ago.
Mr. Swift was
one of a family of 12, of whom there survive one sister, Mrs. Henry
Butcher, and seven brothers: Daniel, Gaius [sic], George,
David, John, Joseph and James, all of whom live in this vicinity.
Besides
Mrs. Swift, who was Miss Martha Thomas, there are two daughters, Mrs.
Alonzo Miller of Kelvin, and Mrs. Charlie Martin, East Oakland.
Mr.
Swift was an honored and highly esteemed citizen of Waterford, and one
who will be greatly missed for his sterling character and kindly
generous disposition.
An
inquest into the accident was held Tuesday evening at 8 o'clock, with
the following verdict:
We the members of the jury selected have heard the evidence given
as to the death of Henry Swift and are all agreed that he came to his
death on 5 Jun 1916, on the premises of Mr. Frank Wilcox, by taking
hold of a live wire and that we find no one person responsible but
himself for he was personally warned of the danger.
The
funeral took place from his late residence this afternoon at 2.30
o'clock. Interment was held at Greenwood. Revs. E. R. Fitch, B.A., B.D.,
and H. Caldwell, S.T.L., conducted the funeral service.
