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Papers › Letter from A.T. Powell to Richard Harvey Wright, January 17, 1889: Electronic Edition.
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Letter from A.T. Powell to Richard Harvey Wright, January 17, 1889: Electronic Edition. Author: Powell, A.T. Wright, Richard Harvey, 1851-1929 Funder: Funding by the Institute of Museum of Library Services (IMLS) and the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), with support provided through North Carolina ECHO. Transcription Information: Text transcribed by: Barbara Post Images scanned by: Digital Production Center Text encoded by: Katherine M. Wisser Transcription Edition: Edition: First edition, Date: 2006 Publication Information: Publisher: Duke University Libraries Date: 2006 Availability: ©This work is the property of the Duke University Libraries. It may be used freely by individuals for research, teaching, and personal use as long as this statement of availability is included in the text. Source Information: Title: Letter from A.T. Powell to Richard Harvey Wright, January 17, 1889 Author: A.T. Powell Date: 18890117 Note: A.T. Powell, president of the Lone Jack Cigarette Company in Durham, North Carolina, describes a gruesome industrial accident that caused the death of a child in the factory. He believes the child accidentally got caught in a machine. P: Richard Harvey Wright Papers, 1870-1952, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University. Library of Congress Subject Headings: Class: Correspondence Class: Dead Class: Child labor -- Virginia -- 19th century Class: Tobacco industry -- North Carolina -- Durham -- 19th century Class: Lone Jack Cigarette Company (Lynchburg, Va.) Class: Industrial accidents -- Virginia -- 19th century Class: Durham (N.C.) -- History Class: Tobacco industry -- Virginia -- 19th century Class: Powell, A. T. Class: Wright, Richard Harvey, 1851-1929 Class: Durham (N.C.) Class: Lynchburg (Va.)
Library of Congress Subject Headings:
Correspondence Dead Child labor -- Virginia -- 19th century Tobacco industry -- North Carolina -- Durham -- 19th century Lone Jack Cigarette Company (Lynchburg, Va.) Industrial accidents -- Virginia -- 19th century Durham (N.C.) -- History Tobacco industry -- Virginia -- 19th century Powell, A. T. Wright, Richard Harvey, 1851-1929 Durham (N.C.) Lynchburg (Va.) SEEK NO FURTHER FOR BETTER CAN'T BE FOUND EMPEROR NAPOLEON III Lone Jack Cigarette Co. MANUFACTURERS OF ALL GRADES OF AMERICAN, TURKISH & HAVANA CIGARETTES RUBY CIGARETTES 10 CIGARETTES E. SCHAEFER, President R. H. WRIGHT, GENERAL MANAGER A. T. POWELL, Sec'y & Treas. JOHN W. CARROLL R. H. WRIGHT CLINT DE WITT JOHN H. FLOOD E. SCHAEFER, Directors CABLE ADDRESS JACKALONE LYNCHBURG, VA. I regret to have to cite a sad occurrence which happened in the factory about an hour ago. Little Russell Candler, the boy who ran the splitter, was caught in the belt of same, and thrown around until killed, his neck, arm and legs were broken. I do not think that we were in any way to blame whatever, as he tried to throw the belting off the pulley while in motion and twisted same around his arm, as we found that he was tied up on the shafting by the belt. I have just returned from carrying his body home. Unfortunately he lost his mother only a few weeks ago, and his father is in very destitute circumstances. I have made arrangements for his funeral and charged same to myself, which I think of course the board will deem proper and reimburse me to some extent. I was sitting in the office and heard the screams of the girls and without waiting to ascertain what was the matter, I jumped through the rear window of the office and ran down-stairs and had the engine stopped at once, and did not know until my return upstairs, (which was as rapidly as possible) what was the matter. I then called the boys up and had the engine reversed slowly so as to unwind him sufficiently so as to get him down. He lived about 5 minutes, but was not conscious. He was thrown over the shafting, from what I can learn from the young ladies, about 30 or 40 times before we could stop the machinery. Of course the factory was in an uproar, but I succeeded in getting all the girls in the dressing-room as soon as possible and sent them home and shut down the factory for the day. Of course it remains to be seen as to what the result will be relative to damages. We are, we feel assured, in no danger of suffering any loss pecuniarily, for the Coroner, whom we called in to view the body, said it was not neccessary (Correction: necessary) to hold an inquest, as it was an accident for which we were not responsible. We will resume work in the morning, I think. We succeeded to-day in closing Egbert at $1350.00 per year subject to 30 days notice if we choose to dispose of his services, and have signed a contract to this effect to-day. He is crazy to get the large photographs as soon as possible, so I trust you will see Hill at the earliest possible moment and have a liberal shipment made us; also make a further selection of subjects, as I do-not think we have enough variety; also write us as to when we may
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