The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-06-14
r. u. Decision In Accidental Death OF
COrnyille Man

1ncTe IS HOInIUB III LniS CASE lhdl
discloses any defect in the equip
meft of the operating company, and
even If there were, the deceased had
no authority or right to climb this
pole and become trespasser by his
own act without right or reason so
far as Is disclosed" states the Public
Utility Commission In decision hand
ed down recently in the investigation
of the accidental death of Allen G..
Bosworth, aged %, which occurred
in the town of Athens, May 10th last
The decision of the Commission is
as follows:
On May 10, 1923, Allen G. Bosworth
age %, resident of Cornville, In
the county of Somerset and State OF
Maine, climbed a pole of the Central
Maine Power Company equipped with
wires bearing current Of $500 volts
He came In contact with the wires by
deliberately placing his hands within
a few inches of them, received the
current of electricity through his
body, throwing him violently to the
ground and resulting in his death
within short time thereafter. A
physician was called, but no attempts
at resuscitation were made until
nearly two hours after the accident
No sign of life appeared in the body
of the unfortunate young man.
The deceased Allen G. Bosworth
had formerly been in the. employ OF
the Central Maine Power Company
in the establishment of line. He
had also been In the employ OF the
New England Telephone and Tele-
graph Co. and was familiar with The
danger. resulting from contact with
wires of high Voltage, which fact is
evidenced by his caution to Others
to keep away from such places Of
danger.
Returning from fishing trip witt
companion, he said to his com
panion, would you like to see me
climb this poleg' Immediately put
ting on his climbers and a pair o.
gloves, he assembled the pole and with
out delay or hesitation grabbed The
live wires.
Although we have carefully scan
ned the evidence we find no reason
that satisfactorily accounts for thu
premeditated action of this young man
He was a man of appaTent goot
health and the evidence discloses NJ
reason that Is not conjectural OIL
which we can safely rely in account
ing for his conduct.
AS we have said on repeated occa
sions, the statutory command for thi
Commission to investigate fatal accid
ents of this nature Is directed to tn
removal of conditions that are dan
gerous or undesirable which may re
suit In injury to other persons. Their
is nothing in this case that disclose
any defect in the equipment of thu
operating company, and even III Their
were, the deceased had no authorit.
or right to climb this pole and be
came trespasser by his own &C
without right or reason so far as Il
disclosed. He was not in the emplo.
of the company at the time.
The outstanding fact that impress
es us, however, is the need of a NOR,
general spread OF the principles 0
resusctation Nothing was done II
resuscitate the deceased until the ar
rival of a representative of the Cen
trail Maine Power Co., familiar will
the prone method, approximately tw'
hours after the accident occurred. I
is possible that had the prone press
ure method been applied immediatel,
after the accident, this unfortunate
man might have been revived but o
course, certainty is not possible. il
such a situation.
This department has prepared |
chart, giving details of the applica
ton of this method. which has beer
distributed to schools and official
generally, and is available to thos
who need it,