Dennis Courtney, Jr

Birth: Oct., 1867 Thorold Ontario, Canada Death: Apr. 28, 1908 Niagara Falls Niagara County New York, USA

Niagara Falls Gazette, April 29, 1908 - Page 1:

"WORKMAN SHOCKED TO DEATH / Dennis Courtney, Long Time a Foreman In the Employ Of the Hydraulic Power Company, Killed While Assisting In Test of Generator /

Dennis Courtney, 40 years old, was electrocuted yesterday afternoon about 4:30 o'clock, while at work below the bank at Power House No. 3 of the Niagara Falls Hydraulic Power & Manufacturing Company. Courtney was holding an iron bar which came in contact with two cables carrying 12,000 volts each. The cables formed a short transmission line from the new 10,000 horse power unit, that was under test to resistance coils in the river, a short distance away. The man breathed a few moments after receiving the shock. Drs. Scott, Horton, Wolfe and Chapln were called.

Artificial respiration was tried and heroic methods were used, but the unfortunate man could not be resuscitated.

Courtney has been in the employ of the power company for a number of years. He lived at No. 520 Second street, and is survived by a wife and four children. Coroner Scott will hold an inquest to determine the responsibility for his death on Thursday night in police court.

Courtney was foreman of a gang of laborers. He crawled into a tail-race with the other men to remove several large stones that had fallen into the stream. Not satisfied with the manner in which the work was progressing, Courtney took an iron bar from a laborer's hands and raised it above his head. The uplifting bar came in contact with the wires which were nine feet from the ground. Instantly there was a flash and Courtney dropped.

Other men on the work rushed to Courtney's assistance but they could do nothing for him. The only indication of the contact were the badly burned palms of his hands. The body was taken to the top of the bank and later to the undertaking rooms of Stone & Lynch. The funeral arrangements will be announced later."

Family links:

Parents:

 Dennis Courtney (1837 - 1905)

Spouse:

 Mary B. Courtney (1865 - 1956)

Children:

 Dorothy Victoria Courtney Neville (1900 - 1989)*

 Dennison J Courtney (1904 - 1967)*

*Calculated relationship

Note: Five grave lot - Grave 3 is the monument location (per cemetery records)

Burial: Riverdale Cemetery Lewiston Niagara County New York, USA Plot: Section 2, Lot 100E, Grave 5

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Created by: Hollian Record added: May 25, 2013 Find A Grave Memorial# 111141259