CRUSHED TO DEATH
Head Electrician William Duclos, of Michelin Tire Plant, Had Idea of Coming Death in Elevator Pit
Falling Weight Breaks Neck.
Crushed under an elevator weighing several hundred pounds, William Duclos, 29 years old, was almost instantly killed at the Michelin Tire works, Milltown, this morning. Death was caused by the tremendous weight on his head and back, which broke his neck.
The accident occurred shortly before 5 o’clock. Something wrong with the batteries controlling the elevator made it necessary for Duclos, who was head of the electrical department at the plant, to go into the elevator pit and discover the cause of the trouble. It is said that just before going down the shaft, Duclos had a premonition of his impending death, and turning to a fellow employee said, “I don’t know why, but something tells me I will never come out of that place alive.” Arousing his courage, however, the electrician descended and had hardly begun his investigation when the starting of the elevator caused one of the heavy weights to descend with a rapidity that made it impossible for its victim to move out of its path. He died about 15 minutes after the accident.
Dr. N. N. Forney, of Milltown, and Dr. F. M. Donohue were summoned, but upon their arrival, Duclos was beyond all earthly aid. Coroner John V. Hubbard, of this city, and Undertaker Moke were summoned and the body was removed to the dead man’s home on Vanderbilt Avenue.
Mr. Duclos had been employed at the Michelin plant for nearly two years, coming from Brooklyn in 1906 with his young bride. She alone survives him. Coroner Hubbard made a superficial examination of the circumstances surrounding the electrician’s death this morning but evidently did not satisfy himself that an inquest was unnecessary, for he went to the plant this afternoon for further investigation. There is an unconfirmed rumor that a careless employee was responsible for Duclos’ death in starting the elevator, not noticing the man in the pit.
Inquiry at the Michelin plant revealed a stubborn unwillingness on the part of those in authority to give out details regarding the tragedy. At first, an effort was made to deny that an employee had been killed.