The Washington times., 1901-07-29
FATALLY HURT In PLOW PIT
James Looney Electrocuted While
at Work Beneath Car.
Despite High Voltage Passing
Through His Body. Injured Man
Lfngers for Five Minutes in a Hos
pitaI-How the Accident Happened

James Looney. an employe of the Wash
ington Traction Company, was electro
cuted 1T 3:55 o'clock yesterday afternoon
in the plow pit at Thirty-sixth Street and
Prospect Avenue, Georgetown. FIRE nun
dred and fifty volts of electricity passed
through the mans body. but in spite OF
the powerful voltage, Looney was able
to call for assistance, and his deaih did
not occur until five minutes after lis ar
rival at the Georgetown University Hos
pital where he was taken Immediately
after the accident. He was shirty-two
wears old and leaves widow and two
small children, who live at 9-S Florida
Avenue northwest
At the time of the accident which re-
suited in his death, Looney was perform
ing his regular duty in connection with
changing the underground electric sys-
tenn used on the cars of the Washington
Traction Company in the city limits. TO
the overhead system, which is used on
the Cabin John Bridge line after leaving
Georgetown Westboun1 car No. 49, OF
this line. in charge of Motorman Charles
Zjer and Conductor ]. w. Dyer, arrived
at Thirty-sixth Street at 1853 o'clock.
According to the story told by witnesses
of the affair. Looney was already in the
piow pit ready to change the system.
The car was kept waiting for about two
minutes, when Looney gave the signal,
two rings on the bell in The pit, signify
ing that the proper connections had been
0ade. and giving the motorman the sig
nal TO go ahead.
Before the car moved, however, the
crowd which was gathered at the corner
waiting TO proceed to Cabin John and
3 Glen Echo. heard a scream for help.
which came from Immediately beneath
the car. The car was started forward.
and continued without stopping, on its
way up the river. Mr.. Moffatt, the divi-
sion superintendent, and Clarence Tav-
enerer. tie starter. hurried to the pit.
Iooney was lying on his face at the
bottom of the plow pit, apparently lifeless.
Tavenerer dropped into the pit and him
self received shock. Then it was real
ized that Looney had failed TO close the
switch. and that the steel conduit was
charged with more than 500 volts of cleo
tricity. Superintendent Hoffatt imnedi-
ately turned off the current by reversing
the switch and Looney was lifted out of
the plow pit. a call had been sent for the
Georgetown Hospital wagon, and he was
taken 20 that institution, where every
effort was made TO proiong his life
Artificial respiration, produced by the
physicians extended the mans life for
five minutes, but the shock was too
severe and he did not regain conscious
ness. The time which elapsed between
the occurrence of the accident and the
time Of Looney's death is considered re-
rnarkable, as the electricity which passed
entirely through his body was powerful.
The accident was witnessed by many
-pleasure-seekers. on their way to the re-
sorts reached by the Cabin John Bridge
line. A panic at the junction was almost
caused by the affair. and considerable
confusion resulted. especially among the
passengers on the car on which the
change in systems was being made.
=, The railroad company and witnesses To
the accident tell differe mt stories con-
oerning the manner in which the man was
killed At the offices of the company yes
terday it was stated that the company
understood that Looney was sitting upon
the ground above the plow pit, with his
feet dangling below. and that his foot
inadvertently came in contact with the
conduit Witnesses who saw the acci-
dent say that .he man was inside the
plow pit, and that the car was above
him at the time his call for help was
heard. The opinion of these who witness
ed the affair is that Looney neglected &c
turn OFF the switch after making the nee.
essary connections. They attribute the
accident to the dead mans own careless
ness
August Gcebei. who lives at 1898 Pros
pect Avenue northwest. was one of those
who was present at the time of the acci-
dent. He said last night that Looney was
fn the pit. under the car. when the affair
occurred. He heard the call for help
and with others ran to the spot soor
as the car had been moved forward Loo