Omaha daily bee., 1912-09-06
Willingly Accepted Most Risky
Tasks to Be Had.
ONE MOMENTS FoRGETFULNESS
Strengthened Up to Wipe Perspira-
tion from His Forehead.
LONG AS STRUCTURAL WORKER
Passionately Devoted to Eight-Year-
Old Daughter, who He Hoped
would soon Be Able to Care
for Humble Home.


A flash Of electric flame that was
brighter than the sun blazed from tho
feet and hands of Albert Lewis, q painter,
when his head came into contact with a
wire carrying more than 1900 volts OF
current as he sat on the highest steel
bridge at the east end OF the structure
shortly before noon yesterday If death
had not been instantaneous he could not
have survived for minute the shock
OF the impact when he reeled and fell
headlong to the floor OF the bridge. fifty
feet below. He struck on his head and
shoulders and was crushed.
Lewis. in company with employees. was
engaged In the work Of painting. the
structural steel of the bridge, He had
long been noted for his daring and skill
in facing great heights and was permitted
work. Insulated pedestals rising about
two feet above the uppermost beams Of
the huge truss carry the three feed wires
that supply current for the entire street
car system of Council Bluffs. including
the interurban connection with the Iowa
school for the Deaf. the Manawa lines
an dali OF the lights about the Manawa
grounds and on both sides OF the lake.
Wires Heavily Charged.
Each wire is normally charged with the
high voltage stated. Lewis knew about
this and had voluntarily taken the task
OF painting the beams beneath these
deadly wires. He had gone half way
across. sittisg astride the beam and move
Ing along backward as he painted. When
he reached the center. Of the beam his
head In the STOPPING position was only
"a few inches from the naked wire. He,
took OFF his perspiration-soaked cap and
wiped his forehead and for the instant
seemed to forget his danger and partly.
fstraIghtened up, bringisg his head In d.
rect contact with the wire Sitting astride
a perfect ground the entire current
flashed from the wire and coursed
through his brain and every vital In his
body The brilliancy OF the flash that
followed attracted the attention OF those
who were not watching the man. Those
who had seen his movements an isstant
before say the electric fire famed from
every part of his body and shot out In
angry tongues from his feet. He reeled
sidewlse and fell headlong, q trail Of
smoke following as his. body descended
headforemost until It crashed against the
paved floor of the bridge.
The police department and Coroner
Cutler of Council Bluffs were notified
and the latter took charge Of the body
and conveyed 1t to the Cutler morgue.
skilled seructuraI worker.
Lewis was about 10 years old. He had
been In the employ of the company dur
ing a part of the time Tor many years
but had long been associated with James
saguin in his bridge and structural steel
work, working with him on the pile
driver on all OF the big Jobs In Council
Bluffs and Omaha.
Eight years ago his wife deserted him,
got q defatilt divorce and married Nate
Bethers, leaving nursing babe to the
care OF It's father Mr.. and Mrs. John
Mcdonald, 15oo avenue P. took the child
and have since cared for It as their
own, being regularly paid by the father
for Its care. During the whole period Of
eight years Mr.. Lewis never once failed
to make the agreed weekly payment, ac-
cording to the statement made by his
Mrs. Mcdonald yesterday.
Lewis was passionately attached TO the
little girl and had been talking Of the
time when she would be old enough to
care for mis- little home at 18th street
and avenus X, Council Bluffs. She has
never been told that Mrs. Mcdonald is
not her mother and is registered at the
Avenue p school as Gertrude Lewis
Mcdonald. Mrs. Mcdonald said yester-
day that she now regarded the child as
her own and would take the necessary
legal steps to adopt 1t. She went to
meet the little girl on her return from
school at noon yesterday to break the
news Of her bereavement gently. "oh.
I'm so glad went down to see papa last
night and hugged and kissed him good
bye" sas SAT- when she fully realized
what had hapIsned.