The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-08-19
CUTS ELECTRIC
WIRE AND DIES
Edward MC0ermit Electro
Cuted in Saloon at Bing-
ham Junction.
OTHERS RECEIVE SHOCKS
HIGH POWER FEED WIRE
CROSSES OTHER LINES.

Edward McDermit, a telephone line
man. was instantly killed at Bingham
Junction at II 30 last night by 300 volts
of electricity passing through his body
while he was trying to save an electric
piano from burning up. The accident was
caused by one of the main feed wires
Of the Progress Power company OF Muir
ray, which supplies the town with cleo
triclty coming in contact with a guy
chain supporting an electric sign in front
OF the Leader store. In so doing the
full current passed through the chain
and heavily charged all the electric light
and telephone wires on that transformer
in the main business part of the town.
MCDermit was in NinCent's saloon at
the time and saw that the electric piano
was on fire. Not knowing that the wires
were so heavily charged, he attempted
with his knife to cut the wires leading
into the piano. As soon as the knife
blade came in contact with the wires the
current passed through his body and he
dropped to the floor dead.
Is Terribly Burned.
DR.. Robertson was called. but was
unable to do anything for the unfortu-
nate man. An examination showed that
MS right hand was literally cooked and
the bottom of his feet badly burned Nc
Dermit was a physical giant being feet
21z inches tall and weighing go pounds.
he was 40 years old and was not mar
RED lie was a member of the Eagle
lodge of Bingham Junction and was also
member of the Electrical Workers
union Of Salt Lake City. &. A Stain pres
ident of the Eagle lodge, went to Salt
Lake City to confer with the electrical
WORKERS 10 see what disposition shall be
made of the body.
Although the man has been in this vi
entity for about two years, little is
known OF his former life OF relations.
Letters found in his trunk show that
most of his correspondents are in Ohio.
An attempt will be made TO reach his
sister, who resides in that state. The
body was brought to the undertaking es-
city.
Telephone Operator Injured.
A number of other persons at the time
McDermit was killed had experiences
which they will not forget for some
Miss Jessie Steiner. the night opera
tor in the Bell Telephone office re-
moved the receiving instrument from her
head and went TO the door TO wait on
patron. The electric lights went out
at that instant and she returned to one
OF the keybOards to turn on the lights
not knowing the extra 300 volts had
put them out. As she touched the light.
a current Of electricity entered her hand
and passed out at the thigh as she
leaned against the switchboard. She was
knocked senseless and fell to the floor
Later her screams attracted the atten-
ton of Mr.. and Mrs. Cray. who attended
| her until the doctor came W p
Sweeney. local manager of the Bell com
pany, was sent for In attempting to
turn on the lights he, in turn. was
thrown to the floor. DR.. Robertson stat
ed that had Miss Steiner and Mr. Sweeney
touched the light with the left hand the
current would have passed through the
heart and killed them instantly
Many Are Shocked.
William Phelps was in the kitchen of
his cafe and while attempting TO fix the
lights was thrown TO the floor He re-
covered and heard the cries Of Mrs John
| Watson as she ran from the drug store
! into the cafe In going into the drug
store they found Mr. Watson on the
floor
Barber CedeTstrOm received burn
while working in his shop.
JOhnSOns saloon was set on fire but
the fire was extinguished before any
damage was done.
communication was had with the Pro
gress Power company, which turned off
the current and later sent men TO Bing
! ham Junction to repair the damage.