Hartkopf, Harry (???? - 1914)

HARTKOPF, LANG, WILFINGER, GROBE, JENSEN

Posted By: Karen Brewer (email)
Date: 3/1/2013 at 06:05:01

Atlantic News Telegraph, Atlantic, IA
May 21, 1914

BOY TAKES HOLD
OF LIVE WIRE AND
IS ELECTROCUTED

Harry Harftkopf Electrocuted After
Climbing Electric Light Pole
South of Fair Grounds on
Cemetery Road.

Claud and Gail, Sons of Rass Lang,
and Charlie, Son of Charles Wil-
finger, with Him at Time
of Accident.

Harry Hartkopf, 14-year-old son of C. Hartkopf of this city, was killed instantly by electrocution last evening at 8 o'clock when he climbed an electric light pole on the cemetery road south of the fair grounds and east of the Grobe place, and took hold of a live wire with his left hand. The first joint of the index finger of his left hand was hanging by a shred of skin, having been burned through the flesh and the bone. The remaining fingers of the left hand were badly burned. After having grasped the wire and having received the full current his body dropped to the cement walk at the foot of the pole and his right cheek bone was fractured by the fall. The unfortunate boy, in company with two of Rass Lang's boys, Claud and Gall, and Charles, the son of Charles Wolfinger, had gone to the scene of the awful accident and the Hartkopf boy climbed the pole. When he fell to the walk, it is said, one of the Lang boys fainted and the Wolfinger boy ran to a neighboring house and resuscitated him by dashing water over his head.

Mr. Hartkopf, the father of the boy, was attending a. meeting at the Gerhan hall and shortly after the accident was called out by a friend and told to go to the Atlantic hospital; that his son was badly injured. Upon his arrival there he was told that the boy was still out near the cemetery and he went immediately to his side in an automobile and upon his arrival found his son dead, with Coroner Nels Jensen and several others with the remains. The coroner, it is said, stated that life was extinct before the body struck the walk.

The boy was the youngest son in the Hartkopf family and leaves his father and two brothers, Otto and Robert. He was a member of the fourth grade in the East Side school building and after school worked in A. A. Gillette dry goods store here, where his brother Otto is also employed.

After the coroner had viewed the remains they were taken in a car to the home of the lad's father, where tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 o'clock
funeral services will be held. Interment will be in the Atlantic cemetery.

The services will be conducted by the Rev. Mr. Lutz.

The terrible accident whlch resulted in the untimely death of his youngest son has bowed the father's head in grief. When interviewed his
terrible grief was sorrowful indeed to witness and he has the heartfelt sympathy of his hosts of friends in this city and the surrounding vic-
inity. The grief of the brothers over the loss of their youngest brother is also pitiful to see and they, too, have the deepest sympathy of every one in their bereavement.

The terrible mishap is the most deplorable which has occurred in this city for a long time, and coming only six months after the death of Mrs. Hartkopf the added misfortune is well nigh overwhelming.

Atlantic News Telegraph, Atlantic, IA
May 22, 1914

This afternoon at 3:3O o'clock services for the late Harry Hartpopf, who Wednesday evening was electrocuted after be had climbed an electric light pole east of town, were held at the home of his father on South Linn street. The Rev. Mr. Lutz officiated. Interment was in the Atlantic cemetery.

Note: Transcribed as published.

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