Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-08-08
p. u. Comm. Makes
Decision in Fatal
Accident, Steep Falls

The Public Utilities Commission In
a decision rendered Thursday in the
matter of the accident at Steep
Falls May % last, resulting IN the
death Of Harry r. Chick while at
tempting to put out fire caused
by a live wire In his barn. says
that this accident very emphaticaily
proves that an insufficient amount
of inspection and maintenance OF
lines leading from transformers to
customers houses Is at present
being made,
TT appears that Mr.. Chick dis
covered a fire in his barn on the
morning Of May 49, continues the
decision Of the Commission.
HE ran inside the barn and
secured pail OF water from tank
in the barn and threw it on the
flames. In doing SO, he stood on
or near the water pipe leading to
the water tank. The floor in the
vicinity was damp. 80 that he was
well grounded. Water from the
pail coming In contact with the
wires completed d circuit which
caused the current to pass through
bis body. killing him instantly.
Investigation was made by the In
spection department and the
dtpdt Va ''i'-
commission, to ascertain, X possible
the cause Of the accident. so that
similar accidents may be prevented
In the future.
In considering the train OF
events which made possible the
eiectrocution in this case. there are
two or three points which are
especially pertinent. There Is nc
doubt that the cause of failure OF the
transformer was & short CIRCUIT
which occurred in the secondary
wires. This short circuit was UNI
doubtediy made possible by the re-
moval of insulation from the wires
through friction with the branch OF
q tree through which the wires
passed.
Following the breaking down OF
the transformer when several thou
sand volts were allowed to enter the
house over the secondary wires, II
is problematical as to what would
have happened under the existing
conditions, namely. with the ser
vice switch opened-had net sec
ond pair of secondary wires beer
supported upon insulators common
to the secondary wires from the
transformer and this second pair OF
leads.
The responsibility for the proper
maintenance of the utility line rests
upon the utility company, and this
responsibility must be considered as
extending as far as the house sup
ports of the emergency wires. lr
all probability had the proper con
dtions prevailed at the point where
the wires pass through the tree
the breaking down of the trans
former would have been avoided
Whether or not an accident would
have occurred IL there had been nc
bypass provided. namely. the sec
ond pair of wires leading to the
barn across the road-it is impos-
sible to state.
an our opinion. in some way oil
other utility companies should be
required to inspect more frequently
all of their property and to main.
tain It In reasonably safe condi-
ton. Such an accident as Is thu
subject OF this case might re-ocCul
at any time. should a pair Of
secondary wires become short cir
Quilted. At any point where sucf
wires are subject to abrasion of any
sort because OF interference witt
trees or any other object, q
potential menace TO life and
property exists. For this reason we
believe every utility company should
be required to make frequent, care