The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1913-12-15
ENGINEER
ANDREWS
IS VICTIM
Reaching for Switch in Barn in
Dark, UninsuIated Wire is Touch
ed and Lifeless Form is
Found Later

b. W. Andrews. Rock Island en-
gineer, 1928 chickasha avenue, is dead
as the result Of a contact with an cleo
iris light wire in his barn last night
about II o'clock, as ne was presum
ably. attempting to turn on the light
According to the testimony brought
on BY Witnesses at the inquest this
morning Mr. Andrews had gone to the
barn few minutes before Il O'Clock,
as was his custom each night before
retiring. with a view to seeing that
everything about the barn was all
right and in safe keeping for the night
The family heard a noise in the
barn shortly after Mr.. Andrews had
left the house. as OF some one crying
out Several Of the neighbors were
summoned by telephone and by mes
senger from the household upon the
information that Mr. Andrews was ly-
ing in the barn and they feared some
thing had happened TO him. Among
the first TO arrive at the barn were J..
H. Freeman, Ed Freeman anu Bryce
Smith V
they found Andrews lying in the
barn. unconscious He was removed
TO the barn lot, where an examination
ticn Was made with the result that it
was discovered that no heart action or
respirstipn was perceptibis Within a
few moments. Or. " H. Livermore
arrived and began work on the injured
man. He was taken into the house.
where Doctors Liyermore and Downey.
the latter having arrived in the mean
time. worked for several hours in a
vain effort 70 bring back a possible
fluttering spark Of life Artificial
rcspiratio.. and oxygen were used and
though air could be forced into the
lungs and respiration partially restor-
ed. the heart action was sfilled for
ever.
With the body removed 70 the house,
an investigation Of the barn was made
in an effort to ascertain the cause OF
the accident AT that time. IN the
minds OF those who had carried Mr.
Andrews from the bara 10 the house
rested the belief that Mr. Andrews had
been kicked by a horse that was in
the barn.
IN attempting 70 turn on light, III
Freeman accidentally discovered whai
is supposed to have caused the death
OF Mr. Andrews He was cropping il
the darkness for the electric light
when the tips OF his fingers touched
the wire. Immediately he received .
severe shock, that all but knocked hin
of his feet. Matches weer then light
ed and an electric bulb and socke
we're found on the ground near wher'
The body had fallen Further investl
CATION showed that the copper wire
from which the bulb and socket wer
broken. was bare for a matter OF tire
or four inches from the end, the insuls
tion having worn away.
Thus the conclusion was reache
that death was due to eiectrocutioI
The ground Immediately under tn
wire and upon which Mr. Andrew
had stood, was damp. The initial fiji
ger and thumb of his left hand wer
burned severely and on his left be-
appeared a spot which apparently va
caused by an electrical burn. Upo
examination OF the shoe that was
his left foot, tack that appeared mol
prominent than the others. seemed
fit exactly with the small burn on h
heel and the theory is advanced tn
the electric carrent was grounds
through the body. the circuit beil
completed from the left hand whi'
was holding the wire, through the le
side Of the body and into the W
ground by means OF the steel tack
the shoe.
From the fact that the bulb a
socket weer torn from the wire. il
supposed that when the hand clos
upon the naked wire, and the cure
was made. the fingers, by force Of
shock. became rigid. making it imp
sibie for him to release the wire a