Harrington - Harry - 1600 volts - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Just why Harry Harrington is not a dead man now is something that electricians are unable to figure out. That he lives is nothing short of a miracle, as he took the full charge of 1,600 volts from a city electric light wire on Saturday afternoon, which is enough to kill anybody ordinarily.  He is employed as a telephone lineman by the Home Company and was sent Saturday afternoon about two o’clock to effect certain repairs on the line in the rear of Dr. I. A. Detchon’s house. A rope was fastened to a wire which had to be pulled over the electrically charged wire. The rubbing wore off the insulation and for some reason, Harrington was obliged to take hold of the telephone wire. In an instant he was knocked over, which act luckily pulled the wire from his hand. He rolled over on the ground and was apparently lifeless when he was reached by one of the linemen who immediately went in search of aid. Miss Eula Lee was a witness of the accident and went to his aid, and by the use of artificial respiration was able to revive him to a small extent. Dr. Barcus soon came and applied restoratives and Harrington finally regained consciousness. He was taken to his home and was soon out of danger.  The accident that caused the death of Robert White several months ago was almost identical with that of Harrington’s, and how one happened to survive and the other die is a mystery. Harrington must have been insulated in some manner or he would never have been able to withstand the shock of the strong current. - kbz