RITCHIE, Everett 1898-1932

RITCHIE, LUTZ

Posted By: Barbara Hug, volunteer transcriber
Date: 8/27/2007 at 12:53:07

Second Victim of Power Line Dies Ten House Later

F. Earl Henney Succumbs to Burns and injuries from Fall of 45 Feet.

Comrade Dead When Taken From Tower

Everett Ritchie Falls Across Three Wires as He Goes to Henney’s Aid.

The second victim of the power line tragedy which occurred at the Iowa Public Service company condenser substation near the power house at the head of Lafayette street at 3:30 p.m. Monday was claimed at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday when F. Earl Henney, 50, 317 Eleventh street east, line foreman for the company, died at Allen Memorial Hospital.

Henney fell 45 feet to the ground from the tower on the substation after coming in contact with a 2,400-volt wire.

Skull Fractured.

He suffered a fracture of the skull, intracranial hemorrhage, and a compound fracture of the right leg, as a result of the fall, in addition to severe burns from the power line.

His co-worker, Everett H. Ritchie, 32, lineman, 1425 Williston avenue, was electrocuted when he went to Henney’s aid. His body, terribly burned, was taken from the tower 45 minutes later by firemen on an extension ladder and company employees, who had lowered the body on a belt by rope and pulley.

Crowd Watches Rescue Work.

A crowd of some 200 persons watched firemen and service company employees labor to remove Ritchie from the girder on which he was being held. A crew of firemen, directed by Capt. Frank Lindsey, arrived at 3:45 p.m. and the extension ladder on the truck was directed toward the girder after high tension wires alongside had been shorted.

George V. Lonnecker, district engineer for the Iowa Public Service company, stated Monday that six employees, including Ritchie and Henney, had been engaged in painting the tower with aluminum paint. The other painters told him afterward that Henney had evidently come into contact with a wire and was held for a moment while Ritchie rushed to his aid.

Before Ritchie could reach his co-worker, he stumbled and fell across three wires, receiving 4,000 volts of electricity into his body. Meanwhile Henney was knocked to the ground by the shock of his contact.

Pulled Off Wire.

Workmen hurried to Ritchie, pulling him loose from the wires by his clothing. Power was then shut off from within the plant on the wires near the group on the tower.

Oxygen tanks had been prepared for both men at Allen Memorial hospital. Artificial respiration was begun on Ritchie, however, as soon as he was removed from the tower by Ernest H. London, wire chief of the Northwestern Bell Telephone company, who rode in the ambulance to the hospital.

Ritchie did not breathe again unaided. At 5:30 p.m. attempts to resuscitate him were given up as useless.

Oxygen was administered to Henney at the hospital, but his breathing became fainter and fainter and finally ceased 10 hours after the accident.

Survived by Widow, Children.

Everett H. Ritchie leaves a widow and two small daughters. Beverly, two years and three months old, and Maxine, an infant of six months. His wife and sister, Miss Lillian Ritchie, Waterloo, were at the hospital shortly after he was brought there, and his mother, Mrs. Emma Ritchie, and brother, Howard, arrived from Waverly at 6 p.m.

Ritchie had worked for the Iowa Public Service company for six years. He was born in Westgate, Ia.,, Aug. 28, 1898. He married Miss Waiva Lutz in Byron, Ill., June 26, 1924. The couple lived in Waverly before moving to Waterloo six years ago.

Surviving besides the above relatives are two sisters, Miss Mary Louise Ritchie, Waverly, Ia., and Miss Mabel Ritchie, Haxtum, Colo.

The body was taken to the Kaiser mortuary at Waverly.

Prayer service will be held at the home, 1425 Williston avenue, at 2 p.m. Thursday and later that afternoon at the Murphy United Brethren church in Westgate, with Rev. J. D. Klooz of Sumner officiating. Burial will be in the cemetery near the church.

With Company 28 years.

Franklin Earl Henney was born Sept. 10, 1881, in Sherman township, Jasper county, Iowa. He was the son of Mr. and mrs. Franklin Henney. After living in Colorado for 15 years he returned to Iowa. He had been in the employ of the Iowa Public Service company since 1904.

Henney was a member of the Waterloo lodge, No. 328l, Loyal Order of Moors, and Waterloo serle (?), No. 764, Fraternal Order of Eagles. He was unmarried.

Surviving are three sisters, Miss Mabel and Miss Grace Henney, with whom he lived at 317 Eleventh street east, and Mrs. Irene Mordorin, Pampa, Tex.

Funeral arrangements Tuesday afternoon awaited word from the sister in Texas.

The body was taken to the O’Keefe & Towne mortuary. ~ Waterloo Daily Courier, June 21, 1932.

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F. Earle Henney

Funeral services for Franklin Earl Henney, 50, 317 Eleventh street east, who died Tuesday as a result of electric burns and a fall from the 45-foot Iowa Public Service company substation on Lafayette street, will be Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the O’Keefe & Towne chapel with Rev. Lew C. Harris, pastor of Central Christian church, officiating. Burial will be in the Metz cemetery, between Colfax and Newton, Ia. ~ Waterloo Daily Courier, June 22, 1932.