The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-24
BLECTROCUI'ED Tn NIDAIR
Baltimore Lineman Shocked to
Death While Hundreds Watched.
Crossed Wires Said to Have Been
the Cause of the FataIify--The
Victim Frig hffuuy Burned by the
Currcnt-Reyond Medical Assist
ance When Rescued From the Pole

BALTIMORE, Aug. a4-Andrew D.
Breen, a lineman in the employ of ]. L.
Blackwell Co, electrical contractors,
evening at $50 o'clock at the southeast
corner of Baltimore and Front Streets.
Breen climbed pole for the purpose of
running a circuit on an arc wire leading
into the Monumental Theatre. He placed
his right leg across the top ross-aTm, with
his left foot resting upon a lower cross
arm. Scarcely had he secured himself in
that position when the attention OF per-
sons In the street was attracted by a
cracking noise. like that made by heavily
charged electric wires when emitting
sparks
Locking up they were Mortified to see
that Breen's clothing was on fire. In a
few seconds he threw up his arms and fell
forward, his breast resting upon the top
cross arm. In that position he seemed 70
be fixed. and his clothing began TO blaze
fiercely- Soon the smell OF burning flesh
filled the surrounding air
great crowd assembled quickly, but
the people were helpless to aid the SUI
ferer- W \. Jamison. who accompanied
Breen as a helper. put on his spurs.
climbed the pole and cut the wire which
had given Breen mis- death shock. Then
he caught Breen. and held him on the
cross-arm until means fer lowering him
could be obtained
The ACCIDENT was reported at No. :
truckhouse. Captain Perry tC0k TIE
truck wagon TO the scene, and by mems
OF hirty-fve-foot ladder seLt some Of
his men Up the pole. They place. a belt
about the body OF BTeen and loweled MIN
by rope 10 the ground
Dr. Joseph B. Saunders, Coroner of The
Central police district who was in the
neighboThood, examined Breen and said he
was beyond medical assistance He was
badly burned from the abdomen down 10
the extremity of his legs, the clothing bs-
ing almost burned off. The Eastern dis
tT1ct police ambulance was called by -
tFofman Kane. ana by order of DR.. Saun-
ders the body was taken to the nlergue.
Dr. Saunders accompanying 1t. On the
way, owing to the draft created by the
wagon, the clothing OF the victim took
fire from the smoldering sparks and blaz d
up. The wagon was stopped until the fire
was smCtheTed out.
1t is the general opinion in the neigh
borhood that Breen's death was caused by
the negligence of men in a trouble wagon
of the United Railways and Electric Con-
PaHJJ VINO, II Is SaId, hSd cut q wire
that point a short while before and faiIt !
TO notify Lineman Breen OF that fact.
+. L. Wenner, who lives on the opposite
side of the street from where the accident
happened, states that a short while before
trolley On one of the cars slipped off at
that point and caught in an arcifght wire
that crossed above the trolley wires and
led across the street. This wire the trou-
bic men cut in three places leaving an
end of Ii hanging down over wires that
the pole supported. Breen did not seem
to know of this danger, and it is presum-
ed that when he got to the position on the
pole where he was sent to fix another wire
his leg was placed across a Wire that of
itself possessed but slight voltage. but had
become heavily charged from the broken
wire hanging across ii. Mr.. Wenner says
that II the end of the broken wire had
been tied with rope and secured so as to
lift it from the contact with other wirea
Breen would not have met his death
Justice Adolph Sauber was one of the
eyewitnesses of the mans death, and says
that il was a sickenfng sight Men shud-
dered at the sight and women ard children
cried out in agony at behOlding d man
being shocked and burned 10 death before
the eyes Of a multitude and no one pos
sessing the power to help him.
Breen was about twenty-five years old
and was nom union workman tLis home
was in Brooklyn, n. Y The works of
Blackwell & Co. was asked by telephone
to give the name of the victim, but little
information was vouchsafed It was said
that no one there was sure about the name
and that telegram had been sent to
Brooklyn announcing the death of Breen.
When asked to give the exact address 10
which the telegram was addressed the an
swer was that it was not known
Coroner Riley will make an investigation
of the circumstances today, bat has not
yet determined II he viii hold an inquest