Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-12-25
STATE HOUSE
Public Utilities Reports on Two
Recent Accidental Deaths
Our Electric Railroads
Years Work.
STATE HOUSE CHAT
Annual Report of Agent of Pc
nobscot Indians-Two Valu-
able Books Secured for
Library-Corporation
Notes.
STATE HOUSE CHAT
Next meeting OF the Governor and
Council, a P. NJ, Wednesday, Dec.
30.

The Public Utilities Commission,
which consists of Hon. Benjamin F.
Cleaves of Biddeford, Hon. William B.
Shelton of Lewiston and Hon. Charles
w. Mullen of Bangor Thursday rem
dered it's decision in the accidental
death of Norman Flye, an employee Of
the Androscoggin Electric Company,
who met his death at West Falmouth
Dec. l, 1914, that the death was pure
ly and entirely accidental and that no
blame is attached to any person for
the accident.
The decision of the commission is
as follows:
Norman Flye, aged 10, an employee
of the Androscoggin Electric Co, was
killed at sub-sttaon No. of the Port.
land Lewiston Interurban Railroad,
Dec. /, 1914. The accident was re-
ported at once to the office of the COM
mission and personal investigation
from that office made on the following
day.
while no one was with Mr.. F1ye at
the time of the accident 1t is believed
that the circumstances were sub
stantially as follows: This sub station
is equipped with machinery construct
ed by the General Electric Co. 1t has
an oil switch consisting of three sep
arate units, or numbers arranged side
by side in a row on a cement base.
The machinery was fully insulated 70
a Joint about eight feet above the
floor. The voltage was turned on by
the operator with the aid of a pole
provided for that purpose. The oper-
alton of the machinery did not re-
ouire the operator to leave the floor,
or to get into position where he
could reach the unprotected connee-
tions.
THE recording voltmeter Indicated
that the switch was thrown and the
voltage turned on at 6 o'clock on the
morning of the accident. The pole
provided for turning it was found at
ter the accident standing in its place
in the corner about u feet away. The
body of the deceased was found on thu
floor about 40 A NJ. \ disturbance
on the line was noticed at the other
two sub-stations of the company at
6.55 "A. NJ indicating that something
came temporarily into contact with
the current at that moment. Pre-
sumably this was when F1ye met his
death.
IAN iron rod, which had been erect
cd around the machinery and ABOUT
two feet above the floor for the pro-
lection of the public and one end OF
which was attached to the concrete
base below and in front of the OIL
..a1 ,,.ac brOL.ap down ShredS OF
clothing worn by F'lye were found On
two of the units some distance ABOVE
the concrete base. 1t is believed that
Five had climbed up and was STAND
ing with one foot on the rod, the other
on the concrete base, in the act 81
cleaning the connection of one Oh the
units of the switch which was IN the
circuit while the iron hand rested On
the iron base of the next unit, FORM
ing a ground, and that in Workihs
had come in contact with the charged
apparatus above the insulation, caus-
ing a current of $4,000 volts to pass
through his body and killing him In
stantlv. The danger from coming IN
contact with the connection above the
mcclellan insulation must have been
apparent. and the injury to the oper-
ator appears to have been entirely ac-
cidental.
I'VE therefore find that Norman
Five. an employe of the Androscossiii
Eyectric Co. came to his death At
West Falmouth while in the discharge
Of his duties, on the first day OF De
cember, 1914, at about 6.55 O'Clock IN
the morning, by coming in contac.
with the electric current then oeins
used in the performance OF the ousl-
ness of the company; that the ma
chinery of the company through Whica
the current was being TRANSMITTED
and operated by it. was reasonably and
suitably protected by insulation; that
tha death was purely and entirely ae-
cidental and that no blame Is AT,
tached to any person for said 1atai
accident.