The independent-reporter., 1922-08-31
Decision in Deaths of North AnsOn
People

The Public Utilities Commission in
its decision rendered Thursday in the
matter OF the accident which occur
red at North Anson in which three
persons lost their lives by electro
cution, states that the accident was
due directly To an accidental contact
between conductor of the Central
Maine Power Company's 220D volt
circuit feeding the North Anson
Manufacturing Company aud the
grounded system attached to pole in
dieated as ~ winch supports 3D.
00o volt circuit, known as Section -.
The commission in IT. report makes
several recommendations.
warren Nu,tine. aged 81 years,
and Ora PouIiu. aged A. years, em-
ployed as teama,crs by the North An
son Manufacturing Company, and
AIrs Thomas Moran. all of North An
son. were clcctrotuted in the mill
yard OF tho North Anson Manufactur-
ing Company at North Anson, near
role OF the Central Maine Power
Co. carrying high tension, trans
mis- ion an1 distribution lines says
the decision OF the Public Utilities
Commission.
eMr Nuttng was harncsslng a
span OF horses in the barn of the
North Ans6n Manufacturing Com
pany located near the scene OF the ac-
eident," continues the decision.
The FIRST horse after being har-
messed, went out Of the barn, was
feeding near the pole and fell down.
to-
get the horse up, and as soon as they
came in contact either with SeI
horse or the guy wire from the pole,
they were both instantly killed.
Mrs. Moran, who lived nearby, eyl
IDENTIFY not being aware of the cause
of the trouble went to their assist
ance, and coming in contact with the
guy wire from this same pole was
also instantly killed. Several other
persons who approached the scene Of
the accident werc< prevented from
receiving fatal injuries by the slight
shocks which they received on com
ing near the place, and on one else
went upon this spot until the power
had been shut Off This was done as
soon as possible, probably within Ia
or 90 minutes after the accident oC-
CURED.
THE 1000 volt transmission line of
the Central Maine Power Company
known as Section Is. which supplies
mower for the Franklin Light and
Power Company, is carried on the
pole near which the accident occur
red, and designated as pole "a in
the several sketches which have been
with tho inVp3l l.
tion of This case The 1000 volt dis
tribution line of the Central Maine
Power Company which supplies the
North Anson Manufacturing Com
pany is carried on IA shorter pole,
designated in the sketches illed III
this case as Pole II and located on
Inc with and about five feel distant
from Pole ~. These 2,260 volt
wires pass from Pole "B' ON either
side of Pole AZ to cross arms located
on the other pole designated III these
sketches as Poles ID, e. and r..
From the cross arms on Pole "A, the
ground wire extends vertically down
the pole into the ground and three
guy wires arc also attached to TINS
same pole, the ground wire3 and the
guy wires being electrically connect
ed. Poles "D" aud IL carrying tins
high tension transmission line. are
also similarly constructed with the
ground and guy wires. The cross
arms on Poles "D' and "E are tied
together by a span wire from "D' to
"I' but ths span wire at the time
of the accident had not been extend
ed to tic, in the ground wire on Pole
IA"
"On account of the softening OF the
GROUND, caused by the heavy rams or
for some other reasons, Pole II car
ryiug the ZOO volt line, had become
somewhat out of alignment, SO that
one of the 2,2D0 volt wires came i'll
contact with Pole "a and burning
into the side OF the pole, came III
contact with lie ground Wirc thus
charging the ground wire as wei Us
the guy wires attached TO Pole -
with . 800 volts. A. result o. inns
the earth in the immediate Flclhlty
of the guy wires became danger
.ously charged The horse IN ieedlng
nearby received a fatal shock either
t.o,n the ground or perhaps by direct
contact with the guy wire. NJ Nut-
ting ana Mr.. Poulin pro12bly received
fatal shocks through contact with the
horae, and Mrs. Moran through direct
contact with the guy wire.
"The high tension line OF the Cen
,trel Maine Power CoNpanY at TINS
point was constructed about year
and a half ago and replaces a small
or line which carried 100 volt
circuit to supply the North AnSon
Manufacturing Company. THIS 2'2oo
yolt circuit was removed to cross
arms on the new poles located below
the $4,000 volt line, except at Fole
"A" at which point this line was lett
upon Pole "B" above rctcrred to.
"Jnvestigation of this accident was
made Immediately aft"r it occurred
both by the inspection depar'meh.
and the engineering department OF
This commission. An especial effort
has been made in this case to aSSar-
tain. if possible, the causes OF the
,accident, so that similar accidents
may be prevented in the future. Mr i,
aGGigt1nt engineer