The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-06
RUSSUM To PROBE
.ELECTR0CUT|OM0 Of
MEN DURING WEEK.
Alabama Power Company
Line Foremen Killed While
Repairing SWith

Official investigation into the
electrocution of w. S. Compton, 1865
Mcmillan avenue, West End, and Fred
Mcdonald, 305 Second avenue, north.
West End. line foreman of the Ala
bama Power company, and the in
juring of j. V. Compton. also an en-
ploye of the company, which occurred
at 10 O'Clock Friday night when the
men came into contact with high
voltage wire while working on an
oil switch at the Leeds substation.
will be made during the coming
nounced Saturday night, after an
early morning informal investiga-
ton.
Power Company Statement.
The following statement was is
sued Saturday by the Alabama Pow
er company:
Friday during a severe electrical
storm an oil switch in Leeds sub
station of the Alabama Power COM
pany was seriously damaged by
lightning. This switch was taken
out of service and repaired by the
crews of Fred Mcdonald transmits
sion line foreman, and w. S. Comp
ton, equipment foreman, both of
whom have been for many years
with the power company, old expert
enced men in their work and two of
the most careful men who have ever
been with the power company.
Upon completion of the repairs at
about 10 o'clock Friday night Mr..
Compton and Mcdonald notified the
load dispatcher that they would close
the disconnecting switches with what
is commonly known as a switch
stick" about IL feet long. They
closed two of the three disconnect-
ing switches successfully. When they
closed the third one there was evil
IDENTIFY some defect still remaining
in the oil switch which caused
heavy flow of current to ground
through the ground connections, and
at the same time evidently formed
an arc. Evidently the three men
jumped of their insulating platform
to the ground, and when they did so
received the shock which caused
the death of Messrs. Mcdonald and
Compton.
other employees reached the spot
within minute and Immediately
started artificial resuscitation. Vid-
mer Compton, who was assisting
Fred Mcdonald and w. S. Compton.
was resuscitated in about 20 minutes.
Every possible effort made for three
hours, including the use of lung
motors, it was without avail in
the cases of Messrs. Mcdonald and
w. c. Compton"
desperate measures L se0.
DR.. S. r. Benedict, chief surgeon of
the Alabama Power company. and as
sistants worked over the bodies. AS a
last resort, DIR. Benedict made an in
cislon into McDonald's abdomen and
endeavored to cause his heart to
respond to pressure. This effort also
failed.
Following the accident, ]. V. Comp
ton was taken to st. Vincents hos
pital. Physicians stated Saturday
that he was resting easily and would
recover.
Funeral services for Mcdonald
were held from the Masonic temple
at o'clock Saturday afternoon
Remains will be sent to his former
home at Donald, S. c. Sunday morn
ing by Lige 10y. He is survived by
widow. who was visiting relatives
in Peterman, Ala. at the time of the
accident. they having been married
only four months.
Remains of w. S. Compton are to
be sent to Columbiana, Ala, Sunday
morning by Ridouts. He also was
an old and trusted employee of the
company. and had several acts of
heroism accredited to him during his
service. He is survived by his widow
and two small sons.