Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-07-21
ROBERT BOYD 70.
DIE s FROM A \
SHOCK and FALL
Electrocuted and Falls
IS Feet from Tower
Was Playing with Companions
Near Hammond's Grove in
Manchester and Raced with
Brother to High Tension
Wires

| A iamentable accident IueSOay az
ternoon resulted in the death of Rob-
ert Boyd, the 13-year- old son Of Hon.
Byron and Lucy E. Boyd of Augusta
and the grandson of Senator Edwin
C. Burleigh. The high spirited lad was
playing with his brothers and other
| companions near the home Of Edgar
NJ. Lenfest in Manchester when he
proposed to his brother Burleigh that
| they race to the top Of triangular
steel tower about So feet in height.
The tower is one Of two supporting
three high tension wires where they
cross high above the telephone wires
! that follow the highway near the Len
| fest farm home.
'1'l give you good start and then
| beat you to the cross the viva
cious boy said to his brother.
Challenge Accepted
The boys had often climbed the
ladder-like structure which invites the
attention Of active boys of the climb
ing age and had become proficient in
ascending the tower rapidly. not
| understanding the menace Of death
concealed in the Central Maine Power
Co.'S. high tension wires overhead.
Burleigh Boyd accepted the challenge
and raced up his side Of the tower;
Robert waited until he had allowed
the promised handicap and then sped
up his side. When the younger broth.
err Burleigh reached the cross-arm.
he at once descended. but Robert. who
was known as a lad Of great athletic
daring, continued on and climbed I'M
til he stood upon the cross farms with.
his fact turned toward Augusta.
Remembering some object which
had been left at the Lenfest home by
oversight, Burleigh upon reaching the
ground started back toward the house
intending to obtain the forgotten ar
ticle and then return to the tower
and 20 back to the Boyd summer
, home in Hammond's Grove. He was
accompanied by the other boys who
expected Robert to join them in a. few
moments. Just after they had crossed
the highway they heard the wires
ring as when struck and looking back
saw that Robert was nowhere in
sight.
clutched Wires
Mr. Lenfest at the moment was pass
ing from one Of his buildings to another
! and CHANGED to look toward the tower.
He saw Robert standing there and, as he
! looked, the boy began to turn from the
east to the south. The peril was at
once apparent to Mr.. Lenfest but he hes
, itated for a moment before shouting.
fearing he might startle the lad and
cause a misstep. In an instant it was all
over. The daring lad attempted to step
from one side Of the crossarm to the
other. reached out both hands to the
high tension wires for support, stiffened,
and fell IS feet to the ground.
He rushed to the boys side but saw at
once that he was piteously stricken; it
appears that death was instantaneous.
DR.. Richard II. Stubs Of Augusta. an
uncle of the stricken lad, was summoned
Immediately and upon arriving he used
all the art Of his profession in an effort
to resuscitate. including the application
Of the pulmotor. There was no sign OF
consciousness or life after the lad was
seen to fall, The body remained in the
Lenfest home until after the arrival Of
Medical Examiner DR.. W. H. Harris and
Coroner Henry w. Plummer. An inquest
was deemed unnecessary.
The boys father left Monday afternoon
on a business trip to Fredericton, n. B..
and up to a late hour last night had not
| been reached by wire. The mother was
at the summer home in Hammond's
grove on Lake Cobbosseecontee and was
! informed of the shocking tragedy by rel
atives who went to her at once. Though
the shock Of grief is very. very great.
she is bearing her burden of sorrow with
fortitude, supported by members of the
family and neighbor friends.
Robert Boyd was one Of FIVE children
and the Oldest son. The only older
child. Mrs. James Harvey, was with her
husband in the Hammonds Grove home
last night by the side OF the Borrowing
mother. Fortunately nearly all the men,
bers Of the Boyd and Bureigh families
were close at hand last night to give
their sympathy and aid.
Funeral arrangements will not be made
until after the arrival Of the father.
State Superintendent Of Buildings