Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1907-08-30
BRATTLEBORO LOCAL NEWS
ELECTRIC SHOCK FATAL
George Weatherby Touched Wire
Charged with II, 900 Volts
Body Fell from Railroad Bridge 40 Feet
Into West River and Was Recovered
About Two Hours Later.

About Two Hours Later
While doing foolhardy feats on the
West River railroad bridge late Sunday
afternoon George H. Weatherby 13,
touched one Of the main feed wires from
the West Dummerston power station Of
the Twin state Gas and Electric COM
pany and was instantly killed His
body fell into the water 40 feet below
and was recovered an hour later. About
j 900 volts were then passing through
the wire and his death was probably al
most instantaneous. He was the son Of
MIR. and Mrs. Charles W. Weatherby Of
Elliot street and was working this va
cation in the Elliot street bakery.
According to the story Of his two com
panions, Earl Stetson and Jesse Bailey,
the three boys had been climbing
over the bridge, doing various feats Of
daring. About 5 O'Clock Weatherby
started out to walk on tine iron cross
piece which supports the three main
feed wires the nearest of which is about
four feet from the girders OF the bridge
and somewhat lower than the track. He
suddenly gave a scream, balanced uncer-
tainly a second and then plunged for
ward and downward into the river.
Bailey claimed that he Clutched Weather
by's clothing as he started 20 fail and
received such a shock that he lost ais
hold
The boys were so scared that they
started on the run for the village and
gave the alarm Chief Of Police James
II. Evans was notified at once and with
a small army of assistants he went to
the river armed with graphing irons.
on his way to the scene Of the fatality
he met John and l.. Guy Tasker. II. c.
Rice and Or. Louis Pettee, returning
from a trip in their motor canoes up the
river The CanOeists returned to the
landing and embarked in John Tasker's
scene a small crowd had gathered but
as there were no boats available little
could be done toward rescuing the
body
Frank z. Ryan was diving where the
body was thought to be but in the
gathering darkness was not able 10 see
much under water. He thought that on
on one Of his dives he saw the body in 10
feet Of water about 20 feet from shore
but was unable to find il. although he
dove repeatedly in the same spot. The
canOeists had borrowed a four pronged
anchor from Hayes Bigelows boat and
were Tagging that over the bottom in
an attempt to catch the body. The
anchor caught on a rock and John Tas-
ker was trying to dislodge it with a boat
hook brought by Dr. Pettee from his
canoe when ne caught the body Of the
boy and brought it easily to the surface.
1t had been in the water about an hour
and half
The body was removed to Bonds un-
dertaking rooms where an examination
showed that the boy mad apparently tried
to kick the live wire with his right foot
a large burn was plainly seen on the
upper side of the foot close to where the
toes join. He wore Sneakers" and the
cloth top was burned at this place
There was also long burn on one arm
indicating that he had hit the live wire
as he pitched forward. There were nc
other marks on the body.
The wire which he touched was one
of the three main wires which convey
the electricity from the power mouse &c
the village and as it was Sunday night
the current had not been turned on until
H. 900 volts is many times greater than
what is used to elecuocute criminals
and it is not probable that he felt any
pain or realized the shock. Dr. Henry
, Tucker health officer who viewed the
body the next morning stated that the
death was due to the electric shock and
not to drowning and made out the
death certificate, giving accidental death
by electricity as the cause
The boy came here with his parents
from Sunderland 10 years ago and
has attended school and the Baptist
Sunday school, where he was a member
of Miss Ellen Hunts class. He leaves
besides his parents two younger sis
tiers. The funeral was held Wednes-
chapel In the absence OF Rev. G. 3
Lawson, Rev l. NJ. Keneston Of the
West Bratleboro Congregational church
officiated. Miss Gertrude Matthews sang
There were many beautiful floral offer
ings including those from mis- school
mates and Sunday school class. The
body was taken to Wendell for burial