Edwin Perry
| Date of Interment or Death | 09/08/1922 |
|---|---|
| Location | Old Fairview |
| Section | D |
| Block-Lot-Grave | 1-5-1s |
Obituary
ELECTRICITY IS CAUSE OF DEATH OF SECOND MAN EDWARD PERRY, SUFFERING WITH TERRIBLE BURNS FROM 6600 VOLTS, DIES ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF TWO MEN UNPRECEDENTED HERE Hommie Buried Tuesday : Funeral for Perry Awaits Arrival of His Mother From Illinois Edward Perry, 46, threshing engineer who was terribly burned by electricity late Saturday at the same time, that Louis Hommie, thresherman, was instantly killed, died shortly after ten o’clock Monday night at St. Francis hospital. Funeral arrangements yesterday awaited the arrival of his mother from Illinois. Hommie was buried Tuesday at McCanleyville, near Kent, where he had lived practically all his life. The death of the two men from the same cause was unprecedented here. The accident which brought them about is practically unparalleled in the history of the community.
The two men were employed as threshermen on a rig owned by Byron Woodbury, Abercrombie farmer. They were working on land owned by Atty. D. R. Jones of this city and leased by James Upward, who as lived in Richland county for about ten years. The farm lies about 12 miles northwest of Wahpeton and adjoins land owned by H. C. N. Myhra. The accident occurred only a few rods from the Myhra home. Perry, who was a brother of Mrs. James Upward and had practically made his home with the Upards for the last ten years, was operating the separator machine. He was alone on the rig and moving it from one place to a destination some distance away.
He had safely crossed the bridge over the Wild Rice river and was on the Meridian road, approaching a point where the high line of the Tristate Power company, which was placed last year to give electrical power to farms from here to Dwight, crosses over the road. It is believed that Perry observed that the grain elevator of the separator could not pass safely beneath the wire without being lowered, but did not stop the machine until the shaft in order to enable it to pass. Obviously then, Perry had climbed from the machine to manipulate the shaft in order to enable it to pass the wire. A second later his cry for help was heard. The weigher on the separator had hit the wire and caused a circuit of electricity about the machine. The voltage was 6600, is is said. The framework of the separator was of wood, but various metal parts formed a perfect conductor. Perry had touched the machine and suffered terrible shock. The electricity entered his right hand, horribly burning his arm to the elbow, passed through his body and grounded. Despite the burns, which two days later caused his death, Perry retained consciousness and was able to call out for help. Hommie, working in a nearby field, hurried to his rescue with others.
Just what happened, witnesses later were not able to say, but in some manner Hommie had backed against the machine in coming to Perry’s aid and came in contact with the electricity circuited in a metal pulley. He was killed instantly, but the force of the current held him to the metal until he was jerked from it by the injured Perry, who was first to reach his side. Instant death saved Hommie from terrible suffering. Where his back had touched the metal, a hole larger than a dollar was burned through by the electricity. Later examination disclosed that the inside of his body was burned almost to a crisp by the voltage.
Hommie was 47 years old and unmarried. He was a brother of Edward Hommie, Breckenridge railway man, and had lived practically all his life in the vicinity of Kent. Besides the Breckenridge man he is survived by 3 sisters – Mrs. D. H. Philips, Breckenridge farm resident; Mrs. George Edwards, Tulare, Calif.; and Miss Clara Hommie, Valley City. Perry who was taken to the Breckenridge hospital after the accident Monday morning underwent amputation of his right arm to the elbow, one leg to a few inches below the knee and toes of the other foot. Despite his terrible condition, he retained consciousness and late Monday afternoon talked with friends who called. Perry was born in Illinois. Besides Mrs. Upward there is a sister here from Minnesota. The arrival of his mother was expected yesterday morning.
Headstone photograph(s)
Location
Old Fairview is located on the southern half of the cemetery grounds.