Rock Island Argus., 1895-07-20
LIVE WIRE VICTIM.
Davenport Presents Another
Shocking Fatality.
LINENAN SMITHS TERRIBLE FATE

Hangs Suspended on n Pole Fifteen Min
utes After Receiving the shock-Thirs
Accident Of the Kind-EIectric comp.u.
les Act.
ROLAND Smith. an employe Of the
Davenport Fire and Light company
was killed by live wire last even
ing. This is the third victim of the
deadly current there in q short time
Smith was working on the pole a,
the entrance to the alley on Gaines
street, just above Sixth. connecting
two wires which had been thrown
across the street from a pole 10 the
alley opposite, when he received a
shock of the fearful. fatal current
that killed him. Bert Horne was
the only person working with Smith
at the time. The city authorities
desired to remove a high tree in the
alley on the east side of the street,
and in order to do so it was ncces-
sary that the company should cut
two of its wires and get them out of
the way. This was done and then
Messrs. Horne and Smith threw the
wires across the street for connec-
tion with other wires of the CON-
panv. Smith then climbed the pole
to make the desired connection. He
threw one leg over the cross arm
running east and west and with the
other leg spurred to the pole, he
threw his arms over the the second
cross piece above and began
the work necessary for the con-
nection of the other wires. When
this was done, Lineman Smith
having taken up with him the hand
line. one end of which was fastened
to one of the wires to be strung,
threw the line over the arm near
him to the ground below, MIR. Horne
got hold of the line and was in the
act of pulling up the wire when Smith
screamed. "Oh" and fell forward,
his head hanging over the cross-arm.
Mr.. Horne shouted to him, whats
the matter?" but Smith did not re-
spond. He noticed that Smiths
eyes rolled and looked CLASSY, and
he quickly asked again: Cant YOU
get DOWN." There was no response,
and the look on Smiths face plainly
showed that he had received a death
shock. Mr.. Horne did not hesitate
a moment, but summoned assistance,
The man had in about three minutes
after he had received the shock fall
en- backward. and he lay hanging
down the pole with his face toward
the east. His leg over the cross
arm and the spur on the boot of his
other leg held him there. Nothing
could be done by the men who gath,
cred there quickly after the event
occurred. for they had no way of
getting up the pole. The patrol
wagon was on the spot about five
minutes after the accident and the
officers. knowing at once they could
do nothing. sent word to the hose
house of the Hooks to bring their
ladder truck. A ladder was rapidly
hoisted and couple Of the fremen
it. extricated the stricken
man from his position and let him
down with life line. The poor line
man had been hanging by his legs in
that dreadful condition for fully Is
minutes.
Futile Attempts at Resuscita,ion.
DR.. Radenhausen with his oxygen
cylinder. and Drs. Robertson, Bow
man. Matthey and Allen had arrived
in the meantime aud worked over
Smith for at least three hours, but
all efforts to resuscitate him proved
OF no avail. How great shock he
received will never be known. All
life was doubtless extinct when he
was taken down off the pole, for no
action OF the heart seemed at all per-
ceptible. Even a slight shock and
the awful situation in which he was
suspended for that length of time
might alone have killed him.
Smith was 26 years Of age and
came from Chicago. his home. He
had been in Davenport about two
When he arrived there he
went to work for the Central Union
Telephone company. Some weeks
ago he went to work for the Daven-
port Fire and Light company. He
caves young wife, to whom he had
been married but short time.
The Eject OF the Tragedy.
The effect of the tragedy will be to
hasten the movement in Davenport
ooking to the proper protection of
i've wires.
The largest petition ever presented
o the Davenport city council was
'ead before that body Wednesday
hight. 1t was from the lipemen and
vas adorned with more than 1000
signatures. The petition asked for
he appointment of city electrician,
Who shall be general electrical in
pector and shall superintend the
citing OF poles and stringing of
wires. the expenses of the office to
,e betrayed by tax imposed upon
he poles OF the different compapies. ;
The matter was referred to the street ,
ommittee, board of public works.
ire chief. ordinance committee and :
ity attorney.
Electric Companies Meet. |,
A meeting OF the representatives ,