Electrocution

 

Once electricity became a standard in the city, the job of maintaining and adding electric lines became increasingly important.  Duquesne Light Company became the main service provider for Pittsburgh and, as expected with all new technologies, accidents occurred.  In the coroner case files the deaths of several linesmen are documented in Press Reports and Affidavits.  By 1925, it seems to have become standard practice for Duquesne Light to take photographs at the scene of all fatal accidents.  These photographs include detailed depictions of 1920s transformers and power lines, not to mention candid city scenes.  So far, most electrocutions have involved linesmen on duty; however, it will be interesting to note how many electrical accidents happen in the home as original inexperienced wiring jobs begin to age. 

 

ZB 18 Sept 2007

 

 

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1918

 

Apparently being struck by lighting isn't as rare as one would think. In May 1918, there were 3 deaths by electrocution (due to being struck by lighting) 4 days apart. The first case was on the 25th and occured in N.Versailles and the second case was on the 29th near downtown Pittsburgh. The last case was a little boy who was also struck by lightning on the 29th in Braddock.

191805-272, 191806-003, and 191806-014

 

AFS 18 June 2008

 

1928

 

One death involving electrocution was that of a painter.  The man was painting on the third story of a building when he accidentally came into contact with a high tension wire.  The 20,000 volts of electricity that went through his body lit him on fire and threw him into the air off the third story building.  Bystanders reported that it looked like a fire ball flew from the roof.   The man died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. 192808_197

 

JT 21 Sept 2007

 

 

1956

 

Case file 195602_229 involves a work-related electrocution.  The man who died was part of a crew collecting soil samples and taking measurements for the purpose of building a retaining wall for a large hill next to a major road.  In what appears to have been an attempt to measure the height of a portion of the hill, the deceased tied a stone to a metallic tape measure and threw it over the edge to two of his co-workers on a platform below.  The metallic tape came into contact with a high tension wire below him.  The man was electrocuted and thrown to the ground over 50 feet below.  It is interesting to consider whether this was just a reckless act on the part of this man or a general disregard for safety precautions at the time.  Apparently there was not a more sophisticated tool for making such a measurement.

 

TG 21 Jan 2008

 

 

1957

 

An 8-year-old boy took a hair dryer into the bathtub and electrocuted himself in an attempt to recreate a scene from a cartoon. A caption under a photo in a newspaper clipping read: "Bubble fun caused death." After watching an episode of the cartoon, "Blondie," in which a character creates a cascade of bubbles in the bathroom using a fan, the boy wished to recreate this scene. Since he could not get a fan, he took his sister's hair dryer from a high shelf in the bathroom, drew a bath, plugged it in, turned it on, and fell in the bathtub with it, electrocuting himself. 195701_106

 

AP 29 Jan 2008 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

1959

 

A 10-year-old boy was in a field across from his house playing with his friend when a storm suddenly rolled in. Lightning struck him and charred the back of his head, while his friend was rattled by unscathed. The land he was playing on happened to be owned by a police officer, who ran the boy to the hospital in his car. Unfortunately he died instantly. The mother learned of her son's death from his little playmate, who came to her crying from the field. I am not sure if things like this happen very often, but I remember my mom warning me not to stand in fields during a thunderstorm when I was a kid. I always thought she was just telling me crazy old-wives tales, but I guess it was sound advice. 195908_188

 

RB 06 Feb 2008

 

A man on a construction crew died from electrocution after he touched a pipe suspended from a crane that came into contact with a high-voltage wire.  Upon touching the pipe the man was knocked down, and a co-worker said he saw sparks coming from the victim's body and shoes.  Another worker was also electrocuted at the same time, but survived and was only treated for burns.  The two men were steadying the pipe as it was being lowered into place by the crane.  195909_91

 

TG 11 Feb 2008

 

 

1961

 

A 30-year-old man died of electrical shock during work when he came in contact with a 440 volt power line. He was installing a guy wire on a utility pole when the accident occurred; none of his coworkers noticed the accident take place, but found him hanging from the guy wire. His body was hot to the touch. 196103_130

 

LB 22 Feb 2008

 

A 35-year-old man was leaving earlier from his day job as a clerk to play golf with two friends at the Seven Springs golf course.  The two friends have already played nine holes and joined up with the clerk for the second half. A storm started in around the 13th hole, the alarm for golfer's safety rang, and they were to report inside. Unfortunately the clerk was late on returning and was electrocuted through his golf club, and died on the golf course. 196106_81

 

BG 22 Feb 2008

 

 

1963

 

A 5-year-old white male died from electrocution due to being struck by lightning.  The boy was playing in a field about 30 feet from his relative's home.  When it appeared that a storm was coming in, he and the two boys he was with began to run for shelter.  He was struck on his way to the house.  The lightning bolt hit a tree, glanced off it, and hit the boy.  It singed the hair on top of his head where it entered his body and ripped his pants at the waist as it left him. 196306_131

 

TG 05 Mar 2008

 

 

1964

 

A woman was getting ready for a party. She was sitting in a bathtub full of water while using a hairdryer and, you guessed it, was electrocuted. 196411_109

 

 

1965

 

A 28-year-old white male, employed as a maintenance man at an overall supply company, died of electrocution due to coming into contact with an "energized" electrical line while standing on top of a metal tank.  The metal tank was a lint box the man was working on.  A co-worker saw the deceased's leg hanging from the top of the tank and tried to get his attention, and then wake him.  When he was unable to do either, he sent for help.    196510_103

 

TG 17 Mar 2008

 

 

1970

 

A woman was cleaning her swimming pool in her backyard with an electronic filter sweeper. Either the motor touched the water or there was a short circuit, and she was electrocuted. I never came across a death involving a home swimming pool before. Perhaps they were becoming more common in the early 1970s. 197008_137

 

BF 27 Mar 2008

 

A 13-year-old boy went out to play, but ended up finding his dad lying on the garage floor. He was holding a drill, and was apparently electrocuted by it, since the floor was wet. I came across more than one case where someone was electrocuted by a drill in the 1960s. I think that since this is one of the only electrically powered tools that one can take around with you, it makes it more dangerous to use. 197008_158

 

BF 27 Mar 2008