Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 July 1909 — GIANT CRACKER KILLS RICH MAN [ARTICLE]

GIANT CRACKER KILLS RICH MAN

Arthur Granville Langham Is Fireworks Victim. DIES AT SEYMOUR, IND. Daughter Is the Widow of Baron Bpeck von Sternburg Who Waa the German Ambassador at Washington. Fairs to Rafly After Ether Is Administered Post Mortem Bhows Effects of Explosion. Seymour, Ind., July 6.—Arthur Granville Langham is dead following an operation on his left hand, which waa shattered by a giant firecracker. He died here at the home of his brother-in-law, John J. Peter. A giant cracker was thrown upon the lawn. It failed to explode. Langham picked it up and applied a match The fuse was so short that the giant cracker exploded, blowing Langham’s hand to shreds. Suffering great pain, Langham was carried Into Peter's home. Doctors Lucky and Cressler were summoned. They Immediately put Langham under the Influence of ether. The operation was then performed with seeming succcess. Langham failed to survive the effects of the ether. Langham sprang into national prominence last year when, after a long financial battle, he gained control of the Provident Life Assurance company of New York. One of his daughters married the late Baron von Sternburg, who was the German ambassador at Washington. The body was sent to Louisville and the funeral will be held this afternoon. Communication with Mrs. Langham was established by cable and she wired that she was starting for hoihe. A post mortem examination revealed the fact that Lahgham's death may have been primarily due to internal injuries inflicted by the explosion. The left side of his chest showed unmistakably the traces of a terrific 6oncusion from the giant cracker.