The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-08-23
A TRAGIC DEATH.
Chas. Tierney, a Lineman, For
merly of this Town, Instant
Iy Killed at WiIkeS-Barre.
Received a Shock of 500 Volts
and Fell From a 30-Ft. Pole.

SudllCo liSiuC1, lollHSlly vi tlllS
town, and whose parents reside on
the corner of East and Eighth streets,
was accidentally killed by electricity
at Wlkes-Ba yesterday afternoon.
The follow ing account of the sad ac-
cdent is taken from this mornings
Wilkes Barre Record.'
Charles Tierney, Traction Com.
pany lineman, met horrible death
yesterday afternoon, about $3.50
o'clock, by catching hold of live
electric wire and falling to the pave
ment.
Tierney,wth a couple of others, was
working on the street car wires at the
top of pole, at the corner of South
Main and South streets, and two other
linemen were nearby, one of them at
work within few feet of Tierney,
and another had just started to climb
the pole. The llneman who was
nearest to Tierney was startled to
hear him utter piercing shrek, and
TO see him bend backwards and re-
lease his hold of the pole, falling
through the wires.
Lineman Charles Murray, who was
standing on the pavement, heard Tier
ney utter the shrek and looked up
ward Just IN time to see him bend
over. He held out his arms and
caught Tierney, but the momentum
was too great to hold him and Tierney
landed head first on the pavement, al
though the break in the fall lessened
its force.
Tierney was carried into the office
of DR.. Murdoch, nearby, but he was
already dead There were no marks
Of any account on the body, but it
was thought that there might be a
fracture of the skull which could not
be discovered by superficial examin-
alton. 1t was the physicians opinion
that the principal cause of death was
the shock Of electricity, although the
fall may have hastened it. The fall
was about twenty feet.
Tierney had caught hold of the feed
wire which runs from the pole to sup
ply the trolley wire with electricity.
Another portion of his body had come
in contact with the cable of the Peo-
ple's Telephone Co., forming circuit
through his body. He received not
more than 500 volts of electricity,
which is not always fatal amount,
there being cases on record where
1900 and 1900 volts have not caused
death.
An ambulance took the remains to
the home, 15I South Sherman street.
The manner in which the wife OF
deceased was informed of his death
was pathetic indeed. Mrs. Tierney
and little daughter, two years old,
had been down town with deceased's
mother, Mrs. Charles Tierney, shop
ping, and knew nothing about the ac-
cldent. About 4:4o they boarded a
Heights car and started for home.
The conductors wife happened to be
on the car and he mentioned to her
that man named Tierney had just
been killed. Mrs. Tierney heard the
name and excitedly turned around
and asked what Tierney 1t was. The
conductor, surmislng by her startled
actions, that she was the wife of the
unfortunate man, stated that he was
only injured, and that he was Trac-
ton Company lineman. The woman
wept bitterly all the way and her grieI
was increased when she saw a large
crowd in front of the house. She
rushed to the door, but the neighbors
restrained her with difficulty. Mrs
Tlerney became hysterical and there
was scarcely dry eye among the
crowd of people. The little one, not
able to realize what was going on
stood half frightened by her mothers
side. They finally were taken into the
house and the grief stricken wife was
left with the remains of the husband
whom only few hours before she hat
left in health and happiness.
Deceased was 28 years old. He hac
resided in Wilkesbarre for two years
He was one Of the electricians who
wired the Sterling Hotel at the time
OF its erection and had been in the
employ of the traction company tol
the past two months and was consid
cred a careful workman. He formerly
resided in Columbia county, where he
was born, and for several years resided
In Bloomsbury He is survived by
his wife and child, his mother ant