The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-08-26
Eugene Fritz Of Westbrook Company
Loses Life.
Was Engaged on Work
at Woodfords.
Body Had to BE Removed From
Pole.

The second death resulting from an
electric light wire shock within the past
two months occurred yesterday afternoon
shortly after five O'Clock, on Clifton
street, near whore the other accident 90
Cured.
The victim Of Yesterdays accident was
Mr.. Eugene u. Fritz. lineman In the
employ OF the Westbrook Electric Light g.
Power company.
The head lineman of the company, Mr..
William ]. Pennell. with Messrs. James
wilkins and Eugene Fritz OF Westbrook,
were at work yesterday afternoon on Cliff
| ton street, near the residence of MIR.
Charles Bean, removing transformer
from one of the light pol es. The trans
former had been located at that point
last week to provide the current for the
lights used at lawn party held on that
street, and the linemen were just ready
to remove the same yesterday. While the
men were at work MIR. Pennell had COCA
sion to go to Woodfords corner and on his
return he was met at the head of Clifton
street by Lineman wilkins who appraised
him Of the accident.
1t seems that Fritz was at work on the
top of the pole and was leaning over the
top cross tree when ne received the shock
of electricity that caused him his death.
He was at work without his gloves on,
but the exact way that he met his
death will probably never be known as
there were no signs of burned flesh or
marks on his body that would indicate
where the current passed through.
Mr. Pencil is inclined to the opinion
that the accident was caused by contact
with live wire and one of the guy wires
which was heavily charged, as this was
discovered after the current on the
street lighting circuit had been shut
of by order of Mr.. Pennell.
Mr.. Pennsll said that he thought that
sone Of tho Westbrook wires on that
circuit must be crossed with other wives
as strong current could be felt from the
wires on Clifton street after the West
brook current had been shut Off.
AS proof of this Electrician John NJ.
Rounds of the westbrook company and
NAL &Aohiy WUOhAOt0s VIM WCnt up uA u
ladder to remove the body of Fritz from
the pole. experienced quite severe shock,
burning their hands quite badly.
Lineman wilkins was with Fritz at the
time of the accident and says that the
first intimation of trouble that he had
was when Fritz Strengthened up from his
reclining position and gave slight groan
and nj hant orr, no
A ladder was secured from the Woodfords
hook and ladder house and Messrs. John
NJ. Rounds, Edward Coppook and Henry
Woodford went up to lower the body to
the ground. They secured rope and
fastened 1t under the arms of the man
and with one man under the body reliev
ing the strain the others lowered on the
rope until the body reached the ground.
Drs. q. w. Foster and A. v. Thomp-
son were called and each worked over the
man for forty minutes endeavoring to
restore him to life. but without avail.
The doctors are of the opinion that he
died almost instantly.
Coroner w. p. Hodsdon of Westtrook,
who lie also an undertaken, was sent for
and Mr.. Arthur Roberts of Westbrook
drove down with Springsr's ambulance
Coroner Hodsdon was unable to act
on the case as his commission as coroner
has not yet besn received, 80 he teIe-
phoned +, the city for Coroner McDon-
ough who arrived shortly after ssven
O'Clock and after viewing the body deoid
cd that an inquest was unnecessary. and
ordered the body turned over to Under
taker Hodsdnn of westbrook, who at the
expense Of the westbrook Electric Light
company removed the body to Westbrook
and prepared 1t for burial.
The deceased was 81 years of age and
leaves wife and three children, the old !.
est not quite seven years OF age. They
reside on Braokett street, West brook. His
wife and children are in Sanford on a
visit to his sister. and it was the inten-
ton Of Fritz to go there Saturday after
noon and remain with his family over
Sunday.
Fritz had been In the company's en-
ploy about eight years and was one OF
their lest and most careful employees.
He leaves also father and mother, two
brothers and sisters resident 10 other To-
calities to mourn his loss.