McConnell - Fred
Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal, January 12, 1914
Funeral services for the late Fred McConnell, whose death occurred in San Diego, Cal., Friday, Jan. 2, were held from the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Mahorney, east Main street, attended my a large number of the friends and relatives of the former local man. The body arrived in the city Sunday afternoon accompanied by Mrs, Hettie McConnell, the dead youth's mother, and was taken at taken at once to the Mahorney home. The services this afternoon were in charge of Rev. Fred Whitlo Hixson, pastor of the First M.E. church and burial was in Oak Hill cemetery. Pall bearers who placed the casket in the grave were James Wedding, Harry Wedding, Newton Mahorney, John Barnhill, Henry Banks, and Robert Krout.
Since the arrival of Mrs. McConnell with the body of her son it has been learned here that the death of the well known young man was due to electrocution. While it was previously known here that hes demise was sudden and unexpected it was thought he had suddenly become ill and hastily succumbed. He was killed when 11,000 volts of electric current passed through his body as he worked on an electric pole near San Diego. The San Diego Union has the following account of the death: "Fred A. McConnell, son of Mrs. Hettie D. McConnell of 1217 Ninth street, was electrocuted yesterday while working on a light wire pole between Lakeside and Foster. McConnell has until recently been a meter man in the employ of the San Diego Consolidated Gas and Electrical Company.
Several days ago he was transferred to another department of the company, owing to the sickness of one of the employees. "Yesterday afternoon, while working on one of the poles, he was seen to drop suddenly. He was saved from falling to the ground by being caught on the wires. Several moments later he arose and said to the men who had rushed to his assistance, 'Never mind, I'm all right." These were his last words, however, for he immediately dropped back dead.
After considerable difficulty the body was lowered to the ground and brought to the city. It is said 11, 000 volts passed through his body. "The inquest will be held today at 3 o'clock in the Bradley & Woolman rooms, after which the body will be shipped to Indiana for burial. The deceased was 27 years of age.' Of the high esteem in which Fred was held by his fellows, The San Diego Sun says: "McConnell's fellow workmen could not speak of his death today except in broken whispers. He was of a merry disposition known to some of his friends as"Happy" A grief stricken mother, Mrs. Hettie D. McConnell of 1217 Ninth street, survives him. McConnell, who until recently was employed in the meter department of the company, was seen to drop over suddenly while at work on the pole, catching on the wires. " I'm all right" he said, when his companion called to him. he never spoke again." Mrs. McConnell was met here by Mrs, Merring of Muncie, Mrs. George Kiser of Minneapolis and Mrs. Eliza Lebo of Lafayette. The first two are step sisters of Mrs. McConnell." - kh