The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-20
KNOCKED DOWN
At BUCKROE BY
ELECTRIC WIRE
Mr.. Tanner Lay onBeach
for Half an Hour,
Apparently Dead.
FRIENDS AFRAID
TO MOVE BODY
But Surging Crowds Breathed
Easier With First Sign Of Re-
turning Life - Live Loop,
Left Dangling Near Bath
House, Struck Him
in Face.

While picking sea shells along the
Hater's edge at Buckroe Beach yes.
terday Z. L. Tanner member OF the
dent or Highland Park. was struck
across the face with the dangling loop
or live electric wire. seriously burned
and rendered unconscious for more
than hair an hour.
Mr. Tanner went to Buckroe on the
joint Sunday scnool excursion given by
the Baptist and Methodist Churches or
Highland PARK He took his FOUR
young children with him, but tortun-
ately they were not By his side when
he was hurt. Mr. Tanner was prac-
tically alone at the time, the crowds
being a short distance away. He was
walking near t.ie bath house.
Thrown Violently to Ground.
Some wires for night decoration pun
poses had been strung along the beach
near the bath house. and on Monday
one was cut. then iooped UP and left
swinging four or tive feet above the
ground. When he came into contact
with 1t Ar. Tanner was thrown ylo-
1ently TO the ground. He was lying
there unconscious for ten minutes be-
fore anybody found him.
When the crowd came surging over
II was thought that he was dead.
There was no sign OF LIE. Marks on
his race showed where the heavily
charged wire had got IN its work. ana
wni.e everybody was willing TO render
some aid IL was supposed lhat MIR. fan-
ner was dead, ana That the BODY should
remain where II was found until the
coroner could be notified.
shows Signs of Life.
Attracted by the commot.on on the
beacE, several nsnermen hurried to
t,ta. scene, and being trained IN sucn
emergencies, they made a nasty exam
ination. Just tnem there were signs
Or returning life. a momen; or two
later Sir. Tanner was removed TO the
hotel. medical attention being sum
moned, and he quickly began TO revive
de came back to Richmond last night.
and Or. silI!er. his physician. was
caEed In.
The fishermen declared in the pres
ence OF d large number OF people that
the electric wires had been changed
and looped downward on Monday at
ternoon, and that they had warned
the beach authorities OF the danger
To persons walking nearby. There
were T50 people on the excursion,
practically every one of whom knew
Mr.. Tanner personally, and the great
est Indignation was expressed that
such a menace to life should be left
so near the ground.
Kept Children Away.
The good sense of the excursion
crowd was displayed to a remarkable
degree in keeping the facts from Mr..
Tanners four young children while
he was supposed to be dead and un-
Ill he had fully recovered He had
left them Just few moments before
with a party of their little friends
and went off alone TO find them some
shells The first thought after the
discovery OF his accident was for his
children. Friends got them quietly
to another point on the beach. Then.
the Oldest one, Miss Louise. who is
eleven, began to ask for her father,
and just as quietly the men and wo-
men said he would be back in min
ute. But she became anxious. Final
~, when Mr.. Tanner was thought to
be out OF danger, she was Informed
that he was better.
II didn't know he was SICK she
said, as her eyes filled with tears.
She went to the hotel and saw him,
and the other children remained by
his side throughout the afternoon.
distressed beyond measure when they
began to realize his narrow escape
from death.
Mrs. Tanner Not There.
Mrs. Tanner did not go to Buckroe
and she knew nothing of the accident
until Mr.. Tanner related the story to
her last night. He seemed to remem-
Der about the exact time he came In
contact with the wire, and figured
that he was unconscious for more
than half an hour. His face shows
distinct marks left by the current
The accident knocked all the merri-
ment out of the picnic party, which
up to that time had enjoyed every
moment OF lts stay at the beach
Nearly every person had a few words
to say to Mr. Tanner either at Buck
roe or on the train, and everybody
expressed the most profound gratif-
cation that he was not dead, as they
had feared during the trying half houl
he was unconscious on the sand.
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