The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-08-19
KILLED BY A WIRE
RAY BALL MEETS TRAGIC DEATH
ON TELEPHONE POLE IN SUS-
QUEHANNA-BURIAL WILL BE
IN HONESDALE, OLD HOME OF
LA ID : MOTHER - LOCAL
FRIENDS MOURN.

Ray Ball, son of Engineer George
Ball of Westfall avenue, Susquehan-
ma, was almost instantly killed short
ly before noon Tuesday while work
ing on an electric light pole at the in
tersection of Franklin avenue and
Prospect street.
There was trouble on the power
line and in company with Randolph
Harris young Ball was making the
necessary repairs. The trouble, it
is said, was caused by Bell tele-
phone wire falling across a live
power wire. When the trouble was
discovered Ball was sent up the pole
to remove the dead wire.
He had reached the top cross beam
and grabbed the telephone wire when
those standing near saw a flash and
Ball threw up his arms and tumbled
headlong to the ground, striking on
his shoulder and head. Bystanders
rushed to his assistance, while hurry
up calls were sent for medical as
sistance and in few moments Drs.
Washburn, Condor and Peck were
on the scene. They did all in their
power, but pronounced the case hope
less from the first.
Several times within half hour
signs of life were detected and the
physicians worked diligently to re-
suscitate the boy, but found their
task hopeless and within a half hour
pronounced the boy dead and order
ed him taken to Perrine's undertake
ing establishment. William Wilcox,
a farmer living in West Jackson, who
was there when the boy was pro-
nounced dead, volunteered to take
him. He was accompanied by sever
al men.
In the opinion of the physicians,
Ball was dead before he struck the
ground, as the current that went
through him was said TO be $500
volts, or the full force of the power
that is on during the day.
Just before he threw up his hands
and tiimbied down Randolph Harris
called to Ball to look out for the
power wire, but he either did not
hear him or else was paying atten-
ton to something else; at any rate,
he paid no attention to the warning
and less than a minute he was on the
ground.
Ball was about II years old and
had only been working for the COM
pany a few months. When it was
seen Ball was dead, Randolph
Harris collapsed and had to be given
medical attention. He was taken to
his home on Broad avenue by DR..
Peck.
The body of young Ball was
brought to Honesdale on the 1.50
Erie train today and was taken in
charge by j. Sam Brown. Burial
will be in Glen Dyberry, where the
family owns a lot. Mr.. and Mrs.
George Ball, the parents OF the un-
fortunte young man, are we'll known
here, Mrs. Ball having been a Homes
dale woman. He leaves three broth
ers, Charles in the west and James
and Frank in Susquehanna. He was
born in Hawley and moved to Sus-
quehanna when he was boy and his
education was acquired in the schools
of that place. When his studies end
ed IN June ne went 10 WOTh lot lHe
telephone people and was proving
himself faithful and competent en-
ploye when the fatal accident came.
Mr.. and Mrs. William Ball of Homes
dale, the former an uncle of the
young man, were in Susquehanna to
pass the Fourth with Mr.. and Mrs.
George Ball and their family. At
that time Ray had just secured
his job and was very happy at the
prospect of devoting all his time to a
calling in which he had always been
interested. Mrs. Ball said today that
the tragic death of her husbands
nephew was shock to herself and
to Mr.. Ball.
Death of Mrs. Barbara Smith.