Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-04-01
YOUNG BOY IS
ELECTROCUTED
ON HIGH POLE
13.2OO Volts Passed Through
Body of Walter
Thompson
SOUGHT TO GET KITE
Several Hundred Persons See Burned
Body Hanging to Forty Foot Pole
Inquest at I 80 Tonight.

Walter Thompson, eleven years
old son of Mr. and Mrs. Webster L.
THOMPSON. of 2l7 Gibbon street, was
killed instantly shortly before . a, M
This morning when he climbed a pole
of the Alexandria County Lighting
Company on the south side OF Cab
bon 5etwcea Lee and Union streets,
in order TO obtain a kite which be,
came tangled in the wires, and
13.2OO volts passed. through the
child's body and death was ms:an-
taneous. Every particle OF clothing
except mis- hat was burned from the
BODY and his entire body burned
from head to foot The body was
removed after about half an hour
and taken to Demaine's mortuarH
chapel
Fully 500 persons were attracted to
the scene and witnessed the boy
being burned before the current
could be turned off by the Alex
andria County Lighting Company.
The lad according to reports tirst
went home and obtained a five foot
ladder in order to obtain kite
which had gotten stuck in the wires:
Two companions, William Petit and
Louis Peverill were with him at the
time Some of the other lads it is
reported make an Intellectual effort
to climb the pole. Finally Thomp-
son succeeded and he had passed the
first cross arm of the pole appar-
entity to safety, and succeeded IN
straddling the second cross arm,
only q couple of feet from the first
one when he came in contact with the
ground and live wire.
Cries were let out by ms compan.
ions when they saw he was caught
and soon there was big crowd OF
persons who saw the boy.
The Alexandria County Light,
ing Company was notified and
lust as soon as they traced the place
they Immediately cut off the cur
rent and dispatched number of
electricians and others to the scene.
They had to wait a few minutes
after they arrived before they cosid
act owing to the danger of having
man climb the poles just then.
A big rope was brought along
and the burned body was lowered
from the forty foot pole b. means
of the rope and quickly placed in the
undertaker's wicker basket
Many people turned their heads as
the body was lowered, it being a
most grueSome sight.
The father of the boy at the time
of the accident was at work at the
Fruit Growers Express. He was
summoned and arrived a few min
utcs before the boys body was low
cred from the big pole, The father
was comDletely overcome by the
shock.
Reports received BY the police
vary as to the circumstances of the
accident One export IS that me
kite was the property of
Young Thompson and an
ether is that it belonged 10 com.
panion AMI that the lad owning the
kite had offered ten cents to any one
who would climb the pole and rescue
his kite.
Thompson was a popular boy aud
attended the puOllc SCnOOIS mere anu
the news of his horrible death was
received with sincere regret bv his
little companions and condolences
were received by his parents frcm
hundreds of persons living in the
first ward This accident is the first
of its kind to have happened in this
city where person to meet such a
death on the electric wires Tmmei-
lately following the accident the
fire department was notified and
Fire Chief McDermott went to the
scene. He, however, was powerless 90
act, the Lighting Company having
the matter in hand and having Just
cut the current off.
Immediately following the acci-
dent. DR.. T. n. Jones. coroner, was
notified and he will hold an inquest.
at 1880 o'clock tonight at Domaine :