Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-20
THE DEADLY WIRE
Cause of George Bowers Death, as
Declared by Jury,
NEGLIGENCE OF ELECTRIC COMPANY
Alleged Error of Judgment Upon
Part of District Official.
THE EVIDENCE SUBMITTED

1 The coroner's jury in the case of George
| H. Bowers, who was killed by live wire
| under the Aqueduct bridge Sunday night,
concluded the hearing this morning and re-
turned the following verdict:
I'VE find that the said George H. Bowers
came to his death on boat on the Chesa-
peake and Ohio canal, under the Aqueduct
bridge, June 49, about 1890 o'clock pm,
from an electric shock by coming in contact
with a live wire of the Potomac Electric
Light Company. We find the accident was
due to negligence on part of the Potomac
| Electric Light Company in placing their
| wires in dangerous way. and through an
error of judgment of the inspector of the
electric lighting of the District of Columbia
in passing the wires as safe. We recon-
mend that the wires be inclosed in sealed
cables and strung on beams entirely out of
the way"
At today's hearing F. C. Eddy. an inspec-
tor in the District engineer department.
was called the first witness by the cor
oner. He told the jury that he has charge
of the work of inspecting electric wires
The wires under the bridge at the scene of
the accident he examined yesterday morn
irg as he had on previous occasions.
Il always thought that these wires
shouldn't have been on the bridge as they
are, said the inspector, but thought they
should have been put in lead cables, and
then they would have been safe"
He said he considered them safe for Or
binary purposes. He now realizes, he said
that the pleasure boat could not be turned
without touching the wire, which had sag
ged. This spring he inspected the wires
and had them pulled up. Until about two
months ago one wire was always alive. A
switch was put in, and now this particular
wire rs alive only when the lights on the
bridge are burning. Before he learned of
the accident witness thought the wires
were in a location that made them perfect
ly safe.
Did you pass these wires as being safe?"
asked the coroner.
II passed them as being practically safe"
the inspector answered, but did not say
that man could handle them with his bare
hand. 1 passed them as safe, with the rec
concentration that they be put in lead
cables. l made this recommendation to my
superior officers. but did not make for
NAL report to the Commissioners"
Witness said the insulation did not fully
protect the wires. They not fully safe
with ordinary insulation. The particular
wire has been up for some time, and while
the insulation is defective, the wire was
not bare"
Don't you think the wire should have
been made safer?''
Yes, sir
who instructed the electric light COM
pany to put these wires where they are?'
Il can't say, for l was not In the employ
of the District when they were put up
District Designates Locations.
He told the jury that the District usually
designates the location of wires. A month
ago witness said he superintended the work
of strapping up the wires, and they are
in the locations shown on the District
records.
In answer to questions by the coroner
witness said he knew that the particular
boat was on the canal, but he thought it
could get under the wires without any
| trouble. He did not know until yesterday
that the basin under the bridge was used
as a place for the turning of boats. A
board he said, should have been used for
lifting the wire.
L. Sinclair superintendent of the Potomac
Electric Light and Power Company, testi-
fed that he thought the location of the
wires was safe month ago the wires
were pulled up and changes were made.
The wire had been there for two and one
| half years.
WHO designated the manner in which
| they should be strung and located?" he was
asked.
They were put up practically under the
| direction of a representative of the Com
| missioners," he answered. They were
| put there subject to the orders of the Com
| missioners. They had been inspected and
| approved"
| Witness said the wires were insulated, but
| it was not safe to touch them with the
bare hand. Persons employed by the COM
1
| the wires. The insulation on this wire was
| better than that usually used on wires that
| are strung on poles. 1t is the same that is
| Used in other cities Lead cable covering
| he said would have made the wire per-
| fectly safe, but such a covering was never
| suggested by the company.
| Four witnesses were examined yesterday
| One of them was DR.. Glazebrook, who told
| of the charred condition of the dead mans
| hand. He was satisfied that the electric
| shock killed him.
| Describes the Conditions.
H. w. Ballenger, who was on the boat al
| the time of the accident, described the man.
| ner in which Bowers received the voltage
| He said that anybody on the boat was like
| ly to take hold of the wire. The wires were
| insulated. he told the jury, but there was
no box around them. On the south side OF
| the canal the wires were hanging down
| and Ii was impossible TO turn the boat with
| out removing at least one of them. 1t was
| his opinion that the awning frame struck
| the wire. Witness saw the blaze, and sale
| he heard the swapping and cracking of the
| electricity.
| Frank Donaldson and Capt. Joseph Ma.
| gruder also gave testimony. Witness sale
| that wires across the canal had been han
| died before but Bowers death was the frs
Il ~