Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-08-29
TWO ACCIDENTS.
A Lineman Receives Terrific
Shock--A Wild Runaway.
Edward Finn Rescued from Certain
Death by James G. Blaine.
VIM. keeler Painfully Injured, Being
Thrown from Carriage.

Edward Finn of Ellsworth a MEM
her of the New England Telephone &
Telegraph Cos crew of linemen work
ing in the city, had narrow escape
from an awful death, Friday after
noon. The crew was at work on State
street, cutting out dead telephone
wires, and Finn and another man We're
working together on the pole at the
corner of State and Capitol streets,
near the Blaine mansion.
In the course of the work one of
the telephone wires slackened and
crossed Il live wire carrying a current
Of about 5000 volts, and the wire came
in contact with Firms body. He was
standing at the time with one leg
thrown over the arm of the pole, as
iinemcn do. and as the current passed
through him he fell, but was prevented
from dropping to the ground by one
foot catching under the other arm.
A number of the crew We're stand
ing around the foot of the pole, but
the sight of the man hanging head
downward above them. seemed to rem
der them rowerless to act otherwise
than to call for help.
James G.. Blaine, who is stopping
at the mansion. heard the cries. and,
realizing quickly the peril the man
was in, climbed the pole, and taking
rope which was passed UP to him.
made it fast around Firms body, and
with the assistance of those below,
lowered it to the ground. Walter
Damrosch, Mr.. Blaine's brother in-iaw,
hnI tIIn
station to have the current shut off.
Finn was unconscious and smoke
was coming from his mouth and under
his arms. There was a slight hem
orrhase from the mouth. but blood was
flowing freely from a cut on the back
of his head, where he struck some
thing in falling senseless.
Medical aid had been summoned and
Drs. Thompson and Stubs were soon
upon the scene. Plummer's ambulance
was also sent for, but owing to the
fact that it had responded to Il call
in another part of the city at about
the Same time that the latter call was
sent in, some time elapsed before it
arrived.
Finn was taken to the City Hospital,
where rcstoratives were applied, and
he rcgaincd consciousness. Late re-
ports. last night, gave his condition as
favorable, and stated that he was
sleeping comfortably. While he was
severely burned and must have suf-
fered n terrible shock, his youth and
strength are in his favor, and a COM
pletc recovery is confidently looked
for His home is in Ellsworth.
William Keller, living at 80 Green
street, was thrown from his carriage
on Gas House HILL, Friday afternoon,
by his horse becoming frightened at
an automobile, and was badly bruised
about the head and face. The acct
dent happened near the schoolhouse
Oh the hill. Mr.. Keller was going to
his home, and going up the hill met
the auto. His horse became scared,
and turned short around upsetting the
buggy and throwing Mr.. Keller heavily
to the ground. The horse then started
up the Brook road and ran as far as
the Parrot mill. where she ran against
a building and was thrown, but
was secured before she could rise. The
horse was not injured, but the harness
was ruined and the buggy badly
wrecked. Mr.. Keller was picked up in
a dazed condition, by officer Mron,
and brought down town, where he was
placed in Plummers ambulance and
taken to his home. Mr.. Keller did not
consider his injuries of a serious nat
ure. but he is an elderly man, and
will probably feel the effects of the
accident for some time.