The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1901-08-04
ThE DEADLY WIRE
Who Is Safe in the Commu-
nifty?

nifty!
The depIorable death OF George Potts,
foreman, and L WhItworth, lIneman, who
were in the employ oil Cumberland Tele
phone Company, which occurred Thursday
at about 10, on the Texas plank road,
has impressed the public with the reslizI-
tioh of the danger OF the electric wire
when 1t is left without protection for
sIfety.
The two m n were strIr ging q telephone
wire across the plank road, opposite
er CINE house No. 4; both were reliable,
cautious and experienced. Foreman Potts
was on the pole and LIneman Whitworth
on the ground when the telephone wire
became connected with the current of
electricity generated for the use Of the
cars of the electric railway. 10 an instant
Potts was killed and a moment afterwards
Whitworth was lifeless.
Mr. Potts and Mr. Whilworth were young
men and married. Both were held in toe
highest esteem by all who knew them,
Upon whom must rest the responsibility
for the death OF these two young men, may
be deter minsd hereafter.
According to the statement Of Mr.
Powell, manager OF the Cumberland lele-
phone Company, the phone wire "became
connected with the current of electricity
by means OF the spar WIRE and did not rest
or touch the trolley WIRE"
In explanation Of the accident Mr.
Levinson, superintendent Of the ShreVe.
port Belt Railway Company, is. GU oted as
having said that "this wIrs," (telephone)
probably slipped Gown the span vile
from beng handled and pulled until 1t
came In contact with the tIolIey."
At any rate two good men have been
killed; two widows and orphans mourn
the sudden death of their husbsnd and
father, tut beyond the responsibility for
publicI Who can tell when q similar
accident may be repeAteoi
We nave demonstrated through the
columns Of the Caucasian the necessity OF
safe guards, all in vain, and time and
again, when we have insisted that the
telephone Wire tn ,uld be protected from
contact with the trolley wire. Some people
have declared, she's cranky" And the
same criticism has been the result of
urging the necessity Of the enforcement Of
the ordinance relating to "ire escapes"
The fact ts that life is and has always
been too cheap. What 10 mans LIE {? To
his wife and children, to his mother and
relatives it 10 beyond price, but what
concern have the great, busy people over q
dead mana stranger to them. Dead
today; . few regrets BY friends; to-
morrow out o. sight al then out o. mind
and soOn forgotten. And, this no doubt
10 ss 1t should be, since 1t would be uE-
natural to dwell always In tears and
lAmentatlon, but after all. there Is degIee
OF responsibility resting on q city, It's
officials and its citizens from which none
should shrink, and that duty 10 to afford
the greatest possible safety to the public.
Who can tell when . phone wire may
lip 81 break tIt m Its fastening and fall ON
. trolley wire, with one end dangling in
the street or sidewalk? And what W uld
be the fate OF the human being who would
become entar gled in 1t or touched this
deadly wire?'
II all the wires, "phone and trolley"
we're ssteguarded there would be htt'e
risk, but the people take the risk and only
shudder when they stop to think and to
consider the RESULT OF an accident as
deplorable as it is shOckiDg-wuich re-
sulIed in the death oil two Dung men who
were in the full vigor OF life.
There should he a most thorough inquiry
into the cause Of this accident and let the
blame or responsibility rest where 1t
should, without tear or favor.
The Coroner's Verdict
The COrOner's JUICY after an irq Try into
the death Of Geo Potts and Whitworth
rendered their verdict in these words
The death Of Potts and Whttworth was
caused by an electrical current being com
from the Belt Line system
through span wire TO the Cumberland
Telephone Company's wire they were
strlDgIng on the Cumberland Telephone
Cempany's pole August 1, 1901, and lie
signed BY G p Reynolds, foreman; Henry
LACOssitt, W s Dennis, Jacob specht, W A
Nelson.
The Burial
The funeral Of George Potts took place
Friday at O'e ock fro m the Baptist church
where Rev W s Pehick oflcIated. The
body was forwarded for burial to Owens
boro, KY. where the unfortunate young
man was reared. The body OF young
Whitworth was sent 10 Hughes Spring,
Texas, bis old home.
There is deep sympathy for the afflicted
by this depiorAbIe accident.