The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-29
DEATHS sudden CALL
Martin Donaldson, Shocked by
Electricity, Falls Forty Feet.
His skull Crushed and Life Ebbs Be
fore He Reaches the HospitaI-At
the Top of "a Telephone Pole lie
Encounters n Live Wirc-Accident
Witnessed by Number of People.

Coroner hewitt, after an investigation
last evening, decided to hold an inquest
in the case of Martin Donaldson. who lost
his life yesterday afternoon by falling
from a telegraph pole at the corner OF
Thirty-second and NJ Streets northwest.
The inquest will be held tomorrow morn
ing at II o'clock at Lees undertaking es-
-tablishment.
Yesterday morning at o'clock the alarm
system Of the Seventh precinct was burned
out. A boy brought word to the station
that ihe box at the corner of Thirty-fft
and o Streets was on fire. Other boxes
were also observed to be on IRE. Mr..
Simpson, who is in charge of the electrical
service. was notified. and he sent Donald
son and another linemaG of the District
Telegraph and Telephone Service, to make
an investigation. The two men arrived at
the station about o'clock and after an in
spectfon of the wires came to the con-
81 olusion that the trouble was caused by a
live wire crossing the postal service at
some point.
Donaldson and his companion were or
dered to locate the live wire which was
a most difficult thing to do.
From 9 o'clock until the hour he met his
death, 2:20 in the afternoon. Donaldson
was working hard. At 3 o'clock he was at
work on a pole near the Aqueduct Bridge.
-, The pole on which the accident occurred
is about forty feet high. 1t is located
near the corner of Thirty-second and NJ
Streets. 1t has six or seven cross arms,
which carry large number of wires. DON
aldson believed the crossed wire was on
Hp had q IA
pole but a short time when he came in
contact with the live wire which caused
the accident resulting in his almost in
slant death.
Quite number of people witnessed the
horrible sight The shock was so severe
that it threw Donaldson in an almost hori-
Zontal position from the pole, his head
being slightly lower than his feet. He
fell to the pavement, about forty feet be-
low, landing six or seven feet from the
pole. Blood gushed from his nose and
mouth. In few moments large crowd
had gathered and everything possible was
done for the unfortunate man.
An alarm was sent in and the patrol
wagon responded promptly. Before the
arrival of the patrol wagon Donaldson's
companion removed the iron spurs which
were strapped to his feet for the purpose
of climbing the pole. Donaldson's right
hcuu Nds ScfeItiS III StNcfdl pidIto
as the result of coming in contact with the
live wire. He was hurriedly taken TO the
Georgetown University Hospital. Life was
extinct before reaching the hospital. An
examination showed that his skull had
been crushed at the base of the brain and
that his neck was broken.
Martin Donaldson was a sober and in
dustrious man. He was one OF the best
known linemen in the District Telegraph
and Telephone Service. having been en-
ployed for a number of years. He was as
ISOLATED with John Owens, the lineman
who lost his life in a similar manner at
Third and ] Streets about two months ago.
Donaldson leaves widow. His home was
at 121 Carroll Street southeast. He was
about forty years old. His brother, Ar
thur N. Donaldson, is assistant foreman of
No. 10 engine company.