Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1908 [PAGE 397]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1907]

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOAED OF TRUSTEES. DEATH.OP LEIGH H. CARTER.

369

I submit a brief statement from Dean Eugene Davenport concerning the death of Leigh H. Carter, a student in the Agricultural College.

UKBANA, I I I . , September 9, 1907.

Edmund J. James, President University of Illinois: • DEAR ME. PRESIDENT—I beg leave to report the circumstances connected with the death of Mr. Leigh H. Carter at the University creamery on the afternoon of August 27th. Mr. Carter was engaged in cleaning a chandelier in the engine room. The ceiling was high and a ladder was placed against a beam to enable him to reach the upper portion of the work. He had been at work upon the ladder for considerable time, when about 4:30, Mr. Potter, working in another portion of the same wing, heard a cry of distress and hurrying to the engine room found Mr. Carter standing upon the engine, leaning heavily against the chandelier which had been pushed against the ladder by his weight. Mr. Potter, fearing an electric shock, pushed the ladder to one side, intending to catch the body as it fell. This he only partially succeeded in doing, and the body struck heavily upon the cement floor, face down. It seemed rigid at the time of the fall. Mr. Potter thinking perhaps Mr. Carter had fainted dashed some water in his face, and started for help. Drs. Stanley and Bain were upon the ground in a few minutes, and Dr. Lindley of Urbana, a short time afterwards. The doctors worked upon the body for an hour and half, using every known means of restoration of life, but without effect. He neither spoke nor made any noise after the first cry. The cause of this sad death seems shrouded in mystery. The verdict of the coroner's jury was substantially that Mr. Carter met his death by coming in contact with a live wire while in discharge of his duties; but the physicians would not commit themselves as to the cause of'his death. It is true the chandelier was torn from its fastenings-, but the test made immediately afterward under the direction of Dean White showed a current of but 236 volts: It is significant that Mr. Carter was standing on the same spot on the engine and doing the same work that had been done many times before, and that he, himself, had done the afternoon previous. The current of the chandelier is turned on and off by a wall button, and of course there is no positive evidence as to the condition of this switch at the time of the accident, though no lights were burning. The engine was unused and had no connection with electric power. He fell from a position of at least four feet above the floor, and the shock in falling must have been severe, for the head which struck first the distance must have been much further. It is significant in this connection that while the voltage of the lighting system in this building is 220, the highest voltage on the University ground, even for power purposes outside the electrical laboratory is 440. Respectfully yours,

E. DAVENPORT. BEPORT OF T H E COMPTROLLER.

Comptroller Shattuck presented and explained his report on the condition of appropriations and expenditures which wa,s' referred to the Finance Committee.

.UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS. URBANA, I I I . , September 10, 1907.

W. L. Abbott, President Board of Trustees, University of Illinois: SIR—I have the honor -to hand you herewith the following financial statements and papers:

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