The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1914-06-18
v. U.T.C. LINEMAN
IS ELECTROCUTED
FRANK FuGATE MEETS INSTANT
DEATH IN SWING SEAT.
IN CONTACT WITH LIVE WIRE
Fellow Workman Who Goes to His
Assistance Also Receives Bolt
and Came Near Being Knock
ed From Pole ne Climbed.

Frank Fugate, lineman of the West
ern Union Telegraph company, was
instantly killed little before eleven
o'clock this Wednesday morning,
June II, by coming in contact with
light wire carrying high voltage.
J. E. BoltZ, foreman, went to the
rescue of his man, and risking his
own life to save that of the stricken
lineman, bravely cut the service wire
and was himself nearly electrocuted
He all but fell from the pole to the
ground. Help was summoned imme
diately and the unconscious man TAX
en- from his position, but ne was
dead when examined by physician
and had probably died when the cur
rent shot through his body.
The accident occurred at the south
end of the Oskaloosa Saddlery COM
pany factory building in the alley be-
near the west side of c street. Fu-
gate was working from swing seat
suspending some loose cable and in
some way gotsinto the eelctric power
or light wire, which was probably
grounded through his body and he
received the full voltage carried on
the service.
Although dead, the man did not
fall from the swing seat, twenty-five
feet or more above the ground, but
the body remained in the position UNI
til removed and conveyed in the city
ambulance to the Cheesman under.
taking rooms.
Fugate, the dead man, is resi-
dent of Attica, Indiana. He is sim
gle man and has been working for
the general office of the Western
Union Telegraph company out of Des
Moines. Foreman Boltz, who came
near death in releasing mis- man, is
also a resident of Des Moines.
Clyde o. Browneller, the local agent
of the company, has been experience
| ing trouble with the commercial cur
rent coming into the Office over the
| cable. A part of the cable had be-
come unfastened or unhitched from
the carrying wire above and had drop
ped down to within a few inches of
the service wire. He sent to Des
Moines for assistance in remedying
the trouble. TAe workmen knew Of
the proximity of the electric carrier
and were on their guard. Mr.. BOltz,
from a position on the ground, was
watching his man and saw that he
had come in contact with the wire.
Without an instant's hesitation he
sprang to his aid, ran up the pole
near which the swing seat was hang
ing, took his metal pliers and cut the
wire that caused the mischief AS
the pliers came in contact with the
copper wire the tool was violently
hurled from his hands, but not before
he had received a big load of TIE
Juice" through his own body. He
was rendered almost helpless and peo-
pie nearby who were witness to the
mans act thought he would fall, but
he regained control Of his faculties
in time to prevent the drop.
Just how the body of the workman
happened to come in contact with the
live wire is not understood. He was
fully aware of the presence of the
Juice" as was his foreman, Mr..
Boltz. He was specially warned of
the presence of the current as he was
making his way from the pole to take
his seat in the swing or carriage and
was cautioned to keep away from the
current by the foreman who was
watching him from below
An inquest will be conducted by
Coroner E. NJ. Cheesman at his
rooms at eight o'clock this Wednes-
day evening.