Gilman Man Near Electrocution Victim

OSLAND

Posted By: Marilyn Norris Holmes (email)
Date: 3/2/2013 at 15:28:04

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; Aug. 19, 1963

GILMAN MAN NEAR
ELECTROCUTION
VICTIM FRIDAY

A Gilman area man narrowly escaped death Friday noon after receiving an electrical shock while working at Gilman.

Rushed to a Grinnell hospital where he was treated for severe burns on his right hand and left foot was John Osland of Rte. 1, Gilman. He is reported to be making satisfactory recovery.

Eyewitnesses said Osland was holding a portable grain elevator when it apparently "shorted," sending the flow of electricity thru his body. An attendant who was with Osland enroute to the hospital said he stopped breathing momentarily.

Osland was wearing heavy rubber-soled shoes at the time and this may have saved him from more serious injury or even death. Several of the nails in the shoe soles were literally "knocked" from the shoes by the heavy electrical charge.