Iowa Old Press
Rolfe Arrow,
Rolfe, Pocahontas co., Iowa
April 11, 1940
Live Wire Causes Death Of Horace Wilbur - Clarence
Osweiler Injured in Accident
Pocahontas—Horace Wilbur, 47, of Pocahontas, was
electrocuted late Friday afternoon and a fellow worker, Clarence
Osweiler of Pocahontas, was knocked unconscious and suffered a
hand and foot burn in an accident near Marathon when the boom of
a drag line came in contact with a live wire.
The men, employees of W. B. Linnan, Pocahontas contractor, had
driven the truck with the drag line loaded on it to near Marathon
where they were going to do a ditch job. Trouble with the truck
was being investigated by the men with both standing near it when
the drag line was to be unloaded and the accident occurred.
Wilbur, who was a crusher operator, suffered a serious arm injury
last summer when it was caught in the crusher. He recently
returned to work. Survivors include his wife, three daughters and
one son.
Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock
at the Methodist church in Sioux Rapids.
[transcribed by L.Z., October 2014]
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Pocahontas Record-Democrat
Pocahontas, Pocahontas co. Iowa
Thursday, April 11, 1940
Horace Wilbur Is Electrocuted Near Marathon - Was
Assisting In Unloading Dragline Which Came In Contact With Wire
Horace Wilbur, an employee of W. B. Linnan in an
accident which occurred near Marathon at about 4:45 o’clock
Friday afternoon when the boom of a dragline which he was helping
unload came in contact with a high tension wire.
Clarence Osweiler, also of this place, who was standing beside
Wilbur was knocked unconscious and was burned about the hands and
feet, but he has nearly recovered from the ordeal.
The accident occurred about three and one-half miles west of
Marathon, while the two men with Leo Collins, dragline operator,
was moving the equipment to a ditch clean-out project. As they
were within a short distance of the site where they had expected
to unload, the transmission in the truck containing the dragline
broke. The men decided to unload at that spot and moved the
dragline to the starting point on its own caterpillar power.
While Wilbur and Osweiler inspected the broken transmission, Mr.
Collins started to swing the boom preparatory to removing the
equipment from the trailer. As he did so the trailer tilted to
one side, causing the boom to rise high enough to come in contact
with the high tension wire.
Wilbur fell forward into the truck when the charge struck the
truck and Osweiler fell backward to the ground. Three bystanders
helped Mr. Collins in his attempt to revive the men. Mr. Osweiler
recovered a few moments after the accident, but Mr. Wilbur died a
short time later.
Funeral services for Mr. Wilbur were held at the Methodist church
in Sioux Rapids Monday at 2:30 p.m. Rev. Watson conducted the
services. Burial was in Lone Tree cemetery at that place.
Pallbearers were John Peters, Willard Gilchrist, Edward Musser,
Clarence Osweiler, Henry Bartosh and Homer Malcolm.
Horace Wilbur was born June 2, 1892, at Minden, Nebr. He has been
employed with W. B. Linnan for the past three years. He was a man
of fine character and was well liked by his fellow employees.
He is survived by his wife and one daughter, Charlotte Jane,
three children by a former marriage, Orval, Elma and Helen of
Linn Grove; five brothers, Rueben of New Richland, Wis.; Geo. of
Marathon; Ray of Spencer; John of Laurens; and Gilbert of Sioux
Rapids; four sisters, Mrs. E. Johnson, of Linn Grove; Mable
Parks, of Superior, Iowa; Mrs. Harry McKinsary of St. Ignace,
Michigan; and Mrs. Nora Greene of Seney, Iowa.
[transcribed by L.Z., October 2014]