Ransom Dobbertin (1916-1936)

DOBBERTIN

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 12/21/2013 at 17:28:58

From Ames Milepost November 1936

BOY IS KILLED AS POLE SNAPS

Nevada Lad Struck By Falling Pole

Ransom Dobbertin, 20, was instantly killed about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, when struck by a falling telephone pole from which he had jumped as he heard it break under his weight.

When removed from beneath the pole, which struck him across the back and pinned him to the ground, it was bound that he had suffered a broken neck and other injuries which had proved instantly fatal.

Nevada Boy

The boy, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Dobbertin of Nevada had graduated from the Nevada high school with the class of '30, had spent some time in Illinois and had been working on an extra gang for the Iowa Continental Telephone company only since Monday.

He was working with Everett Kahl, removing a line of poles down the alley in the rear of the Dr. Sperow home, corner Fifth and G avenue.

Tested Pole

The pole at the north end of the alley had been tested out and appeared to be safe and Kahl, working on the pole to the south, told Dubbertin to climb the stepped pole to remove a tangled dead wire that had become caught.

When almost two-thirds the way up the 85-foot pole, a cracking was heard and Kahl called to Dobbertin to jump. Taking a few stops down he jumped a distance of about 16 feet, alighting upon his feet and had taken a step or so, when the pole crashed down upon him.

Killed By Blow

Kahl, Dr. Sperow and others who witnessed the accident, hastened to the unfortunate boy, and raised the pole which was crushing him down, but examination revealed that he was already dead.

Precaution had been taken, according to Everett Kahl in charge of the work, to examine the pole and everything indicated that it was safe in every way to climb.

Funeral arrangements for the unfortunate young man had not been determined this afternoon, according to those in charge.--Nevada Journal