SHOCKING DEATH OF AN ELECTRICIAN.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 133, 2 December 1904, Page 6

SHOCKING DEATH OF AN ELECTRICIAN.

FATALITY AT A WELLINGTON POWER-HOUSE. A dreadful occurrence took place last evening, shortly after 8 o'clock, at the power-house of the New Zealand Electrical Syndicate, which supplies the electric lighting for the city. It appears that Mr. William Wan-en, ft comparatively young man, who is employed by the Syndicate, was engaged in operating the switch-board. He was switching on the Karori circuit when he apparently touched another switch, and by some means completed a circuit, the full current of 2000 volts passing through his body. Death was instantaneous, and the heavy shock discoloured the unfortunate man's body, and wrenched it into a contorted shape. His hands wero dreadfully burned. When seen this morning, Mr. H. Roy, the chief engineer, was unwilling to speak of the sad accident, which took place during his absence from the power-"house. It appears that, with an inexplicable carelessness, Warren was handling the switches with his^ bare hands, instead of using the rubber gloves, the use of which, as a notice on the switchboard shows, are very stringently insisted upon. His body was shortly after the accident removed to the Morgue. Mr. Warren was a son of Mrs. Warren, of No. 3, Bidwill-street, and was a bro-ther-in-law of Master Gunner Richardson. He was an experienced engineer, his apprenticeship being served with- Messrs. Luke and Sons, of this city.' After finishing his apprenticeship, about nine or ten years ago, he went to England, and was engaged as an engineer on various steamers, eventually taking a responsible position in 'the engineering works of Messrs. Babcock and Wilcox. On returning to the colony, he was engaged, in the early part of this year, to take charge of the electric dynamo in connection with the lift in the Railway Offices. He then became chief engineer on the Tasman, but, desiring to become acquainted with electrical engineering, obtained the situation 4n which he ■let his unhappy death. In ordinary circumstances an operator Biay handle the switches with his bare bauds, because the switch handles are made of insulating material. The floor Upon which the operator stands is also insulated. The brass switches themselves ue, however, highly charged with electricity, and portion of 'the switches are bore, and, if one is touched with the bare hand, a sharp repulsive shock and a nasty fcurn is the result. When the bare flesh •f one hand touches the naked portion «f one switch, while the other hand touches the naked portion of another •witch, the body forms a "shunt," or loop Hne through which the current passes, with, if the voltage or electromotive force is sufficiently high, fatal effects. The iediarubber gloves prevent the passage of the current. One of two causes appears to nave been responsible for Wanen's death. Either there was a leakage of current through the insulated grips of both switches touched, or he touched the naked brass of the switches with both hands. THE INQUEST. At 3 o'clock this afternoon an inquest was opened before Mr. A. Simpson, Actfcig Coroner, at the Morgue. Mr. A. E. Earls was chosen foreman of the jury. Mr. Myere .attended to Watch the case Mt behalf of the Electric Lighting Syndicate. A brother of deceased, George Warren, ft Government messenger, said that deceased was 34 years of age, and unmarried, and had been at the Electric Syndicate's works since 12th October last, as lourtn engineer. Deceased had been an engineer by profession, but not an electrical engineer, and had been a total abstainer. William Hunter, an engineer employed at the Electric Syndicate's works, stated that he was present at the accident, which took place at 7.40 p.m. (Left sitting.)