LINEMAN ELECTROCUTED AT TOP OF POLE FALLS TO GROUND LIKE A ROCKET - MYSTERY SURROUNDS MANNER OF CONTACT
While Heroic Efforts Were Made Toward Resuscitation It Is Believed Life Was Extinct When the Body Reached the Ground
On Monday morning at about 8:30 Grangeville was visited by one of the saddest accidents that has occurred in many years when Aille Alexander, aged 29 years, only son of Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Alexander, of this city, a lineman in the employ of the Grangeville Electric Light & Power Co., lost his life apparently by coming in contact with a high-tension wire on a 25-foot pole at the north end of Main Street near the top of the hill and fell to the street below.
Aille and other workmen had gone to work a few minutes before the accident and were engaged in straightening up the pole from which he lost his life. The lighting wires on the lower cross arm had been cut by other workmen earlier in the morning and it was the duty of Aille to ascend the pole and release other wires that were attached from the side which had placed the pole out of plumb. Allie was near the top of the pole and as far as is known was attending to the work mapped out for him, but from all appearances was not using his safety belt for the reason that when picked up, the end of the safety appliance was snapped in the ring at the opposite end. The unfortunate man's knife was stuck straight up in the second cross arm, which it is stated goes to show that he was possibly hanging on or astride of the lower cross arm.
The workmen engaged on the ground had just returned to the electric light office, and about the same time Bert Baker was approaching the location of this pole in going his rounds soliciting for his grocery firm, noted that a workman was working at the top of the pole, and A. E. Randall, of Mt. Idaho, who was returning home from town, was almost opposite the same place when a jingling of the wires was heard, and looking up, Mr. Baker saw the body of the victim just before it reached the ground.
Mr. Randall immediately jumped off his horse and rushed to the assistance of Alexander and raised him to a kind of sitting posture and Mr. Baker ran up the hill to the Geo. Medved home to telephone for a physician. Not finding a phone there he ran back and dispatched Randall downtown for assistance, and at this time recognized the identity of the inert man.
At about the precise minute, of the accident, an electrical disturbance took place in the office of the company a block and a half distant, and realizing that something was wrong, the office force knowing where the work was going on rushed to the scene.
First aid methods were at once applied and on the arrival of Dr. Stockton shortly after artificial respiration was being vigorously applied. By this time a considerable number of people had assembled and the work was carried on continuously until almost
Noon but to no avail. Everything possible was done to resuscitate the unfortunate man without response.
The sister, Miss Marietta, was notified and taken to the scene and on viewing the helpless condition of her brother was at once driven to her home.
In one of the nearby autos. The father, Mr. A. E. Alexander, who was out in the country a short distance, was sent for and arrived sometime after the son had met with this distressing accident and watched the efforts of the many friends who so valiantly labored to restore life to their well-known friend and comrade, and remained until the last vestige of hope had been given up when the body was removed to the W. E. Graham Undertaking establishment to await funeral arrangements.
Mrs. Alexander was not notified until after it was established that life was extinct, in the hope that the life of her boy might be saved by artificial respiration.
The management of the electric light office states that no wires were attached to the lower cross arm and that on making an investigation of the work to be done by Mr. Alexander found that his task had been completed, and the wires had been carefully wrapped around the pole at the second cross arm, where the work had been performed. The three wires on the top cross arm and the apex of the pole were the only ones carrying the current and those versed in the vagaries of electricity were at a loss for a
solution as to how the deceased came in contact with the death-dealing wave of electricity.
After removing the body to the undertaking parlor Drs. Stockton and Rains, in the presence of several friends of the deceased and family, made a minute examination of the remains and found the right hand burned considerably. The third finger from the center joint to the end was seared and a fair-sized hole was in the end. The leather in the glove on the back of this finger on the same hand back of this finger was also burned. The second finger on the same hand showed a bad burn on the end in which, a hole was also noticeable, and near the knuckle of this finger there was a small burn about the size of a pea and one of the same kind on the little finger of the same hand. On the left hand, the only burn noticed was a small one just above the knuckle of the little finger.
On reaching the place those first on the scene found Alexander lying with his head down the hill and the theory was advanced that his neck was broken and that possibly other bones were
broken by the fall which is supposed to have been between 25 or 30 feet, but the physicians' examination showed that such was not the case. Aside from the left hand, the body showed abrasions
on the right leg between the knee and the hip as if it had been scraped by something in the fall and a few smaller abrasions on the arms and chest.
Mrs. Jacob Stites and Mrs. L. E. Smith of Stites were notified at about 11 o'clock and arrangements were made to meet them at the top of the hill with an auto and they reached the side of the stricken parents and younger sister at 2 o'clock.
On being informed of the accident Mrs. Stanley Hodgens of Spirit Lake, at once started for the home of her parents as did Mrs. Viola Wilson, of Marshfield, Ore. Mrs. Hodgens reached here last evening and it is expected that Mrs. Wilson will arrive on Friday, the entire family will be present at the funeral which will be held from the residence at 10 o'clock, on Saturday and will be conducted by Rev. R. E. Gornall and Rev. Callison, interment being made in Prairie View Cemetery.
A pall of grief has been cast over the entire community from whom condolences are extended to the bereaved parents and sisters.
The Grangeville globe.(Grangeville, Idaho), 10 June 1915. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress - transcribed by Kerry 48011981.
LINEMAN ELECTROCUTED AT TOP OF POLE FALLS TO GROUND LIKE A ROCKET - MYSTERY SURROUNDS MANNER OF CONTACT
While Heroic Efforts Were Made Toward Resuscitation It Is Believed Life Was Extinct When the Body Reached the Ground
On Monday morning at about 8:30 Grangeville was visited by one of the saddest accidents that has occurred in many years when Aille Alexander, aged 29 years, only son of Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Alexander, of this city, a lineman in the employ of the Grangeville Electric Light & Power Co., lost his life apparently by coming in contact with a high-tension wire on a 25-foot pole at the north end of Main Street near the top of the hill and fell to the street below.
Aille and other workmen had gone to work a few minutes before the accident and were engaged in straightening up the pole from which he lost his life. The lighting wires on the lower cross arm had been cut by other workmen earlier in the morning and it was the duty of Aille to ascend the pole and release other wires that were attached from the side which had placed the pole out of plumb. Allie was near the top of the pole and as far as is known was attending to the work mapped out for him, but from all appearances was not using his safety belt for the reason that when picked up, the end of the safety appliance was snapped in the ring at the opposite end. The unfortunate man's knife was stuck straight up in the second cross arm, which it is stated goes to show that he was possibly hanging on or astride of the lower cross arm.
The workmen engaged on the ground had just returned to the electric light office, and about the same time Bert Baker was approaching the location of this pole in going his rounds soliciting for his grocery firm, noted that a workman was working at the top of the pole, and A. E. Randall, of Mt. Idaho, who was returning home from town, was almost opposite the same place when a jingling of the wires was heard, and looking up, Mr. Baker saw the body of the victim just before it reached the ground.
Mr. Randall immediately jumped off his horse and rushed to the assistance of Alexander and raised him to a kind of sitting posture and Mr. Baker ran up the hill to the Geo. Medved home to telephone for a physician. Not finding a phone there he ran back and dispatched Randall downtown for assistance, and at this time recognized the identity of the inert man.
At about the precise minute, of the accident, an electrical disturbance took place in the office of the company a block and a half distant, and realizing that something was wrong, the office force knowing where the work was going on rushed to the scene.
First aid methods were at once applied and on the arrival of Dr. Stockton shortly after artificial respiration was being vigorously applied. By this time a considerable number of people had assembled and the work was carried on continuously until almost
Noon but to no avail. Everything possible was done to resuscitate the unfortunate man without response.
The sister, Miss Marietta, was notified and taken to the scene and on viewing the helpless condition of her brother was at once driven to her home.
In one of the nearby autos. The father, Mr. A. E. Alexander, who was out in the country a short distance, was sent for and arrived sometime after the son had met with this distressing accident and watched the efforts of the many friends who so valiantly labored to restore life to their well-known friend and comrade, and remained until the last vestige of hope had been given up when the body was removed to the W. E. Graham Undertaking establishment to await funeral arrangements.
Mrs. Alexander was not notified until after it was established that life was extinct, in the hope that the life of her boy might be saved by artificial respiration.
The management of the electric light office states that no wires were attached to the lower cross arm and that on making an investigation of the work to be done by Mr. Alexander found that his task had been completed, and the wires had been carefully wrapped around the pole at the second cross arm, where the work had been performed. The three wires on the top cross arm and the apex of the pole were the only ones carrying the current and those versed in the vagaries of electricity were at a loss for a
solution as to how the deceased came in contact with the death-dealing wave of electricity.
After removing the body to the undertaking parlor Drs. Stockton and Rains, in the presence of several friends of the deceased and family, made a minute examination of the remains and found the right hand burned considerably. The third finger from the center joint to the end was seared and a fair-sized hole was in the end. The leather in the glove on the back of this finger on the same hand back of this finger was also burned. The second finger on the same hand showed a bad burn on the end in which, a hole was also noticeable, and near the knuckle of this finger there was a small burn about the size of a pea and one of the same kind on the little finger of the same hand. On the left hand, the only burn noticed was a small one just above the knuckle of the little finger.
On reaching the place those first on the scene found Alexander lying with his head down the hill and the theory was advanced that his neck was broken and that possibly other bones were
broken by the fall which is supposed to have been between 25 or 30 feet, but the physicians' examination showed that such was not the case. Aside from the left hand, the body showed abrasions
on the right leg between the knee and the hip as if it had been scraped by something in the fall and a few smaller abrasions on the arms and chest.
Mrs. Jacob Stites and Mrs. L. E. Smith of Stites were notified at about 11 o'clock and arrangements were made to meet them at the top of the hill with an auto and they reached the side of the stricken parents and younger sister at 2 o'clock.
On being informed of the accident Mrs. Stanley Hodgens of Spirit Lake, at once started for the home of her parents as did Mrs. Viola Wilson, of Marshfield, Ore. Mrs. Hodgens reached here last evening and it is expected that Mrs. Wilson will arrive on Friday, the entire family will be present at the funeral which will be held from the residence at 10 o'clock, on Saturday and will be conducted by Rev. R. E. Gornall and Rev. Callison, interment being made in Prairie View Cemetery.
A pall of grief has been cast over the entire community from whom condolences are extended to the bereaved parents and sisters.
The Grangeville globe.(Grangeville, Idaho), 10 June 1915. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress - transcribed by Kerry 48011981.
Inscription
At Rest
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
