Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-07-23
A BAD ACCIDENT,
Robert Murphy Victim Of Live
Electric Wire.
Also Has Fall Of About 80 Feet to
Ground Below.
Al City Hospital in Serious Condition Hopes
Of His Recovery.

a bad accident took place in the rear
o? the block occupied by J. f.. Fuller.
about 12.15 yesterday. Frank V. Has
| kcll was on telephone pole, making
| some repairs. Robert Murphy. who is
| learning the business but who was not
| on duty at the time, came there and
| stood for some time at the foot of the
! pole.
| Haskell went on with his work but
| later felt the pole tremble. Looking
down he saw Murphy ascending the
pole. Haskell warned Murphy against
| taking hold of the wires. Murphy went
| to the top of the pole. examined the
work ard started to descend, II askell
| following.
| Haskell says that when he himself
was between the two sets of arms on
! the pole he heard 81 sound similar to
! that made by an arc light when it Is
turned on. Looking down quickly he
saw that Murphy had touched his
| shoulder to a live wire. In his excite
mcnt he reached out and seized the
wire as if to ward off it's effects.
| Haskell attempted. to descend and re-
| lieve the unfortunate man but he him
! StlI !t'tlN tb ii Shptah uttiliS HiS al III
| Through a brace he steadied himself
| and again attempted to give aid. a
| second shock nearly knocked Haskell
/ from the pole. He then realized that
| the only thing to do was to shake the
| pole and if possible cause Murphy to
fall to the ground. 1t was a question
Of choosing between two dangers and
! Haskell very wisely chose to shake
| the young man from the cling
| ing wires into the coal dust
80 feet below. rather than al
low the current to pass through him
longer. Murphys hands were already
smoking from The severe burning they
were receiving from the. current
| Haskell gave the pole a brisk ,shak
ing and Murphy was precipitated to
the ground. Some men; in Fullers
store heard Haskell cry out 10 Murphy.
.Ict 60" and rushing To the aHindow
arrived just in time to- see. Murphy
| falling through the air.
They dashed out of the store and
went To the relief of the injured man.
| He was taken into the basement Of
! Fullcrs store and Drs. A. III. Sturtc-
| want and o. a. :. Davies were sum
/ nlolct. I.PN auilifiiSt'I''i ltStoId
! tivee. Plummars ambulance was called
and the lad taken to tn" city Hospital.
| Murphy received bad eiectrical'
shock 1t will never he known just how
many volts. as Haskell cannot say
| lust what wire he had hold of, and the
various wires on the pole vary in the
amount of electricity which passes
lover them.
| Murphys nervous system was badly
paralyzed The current passed down
his right side and came to the surface
! in several places where it left its
marks One hand was severely burned
by electricity and was somewhat bruis-
cd The other was bruised, either by
hitting the pole in the descent or by
striking the ground. AS far as the ply
s;cians could say no bones were brok-
en and they could not say whether or
not there were any serious internal in
juries.
Murphy is a popular young man.
most favorably known in this city. be-
inc a son of Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas r.
Murphy. He had been employed by
Vickery & Hill and a short time ago
left there to enter the employ of the
New England Telephone Co. He had
y orkcd as night operator for one week
in place of Frank Y. Haskell, who re-
turned this week to take the place of
Arthur Vose. the day opera tor, which
explains his presence on duty. yester-
day.
! DR.. Sturtevant was seen by a Jour
nal reporter at a late hour. last even
ms. He reported Murphy to be still in
a, unconscious condition as he had re-
,n.ined aIl the afternoon. The appear
anCes. however. seemed to show a
slight change for the better and there
are hopes % his recovery.