NEWS: George L. BROMLEY Dies in Fall Against Power Line, 1918, of Blair Four, Blair County, PA

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QUARRYMAN IS FOUND LIFELESS AT POWER LINE

George L. Bromley, 29, Blair Four Resident, Electrocuted Early Saturday

SLIPPED DOWN BANK AGAINST WIRE

  Mysterious absence of George L. Bromley, aged 29, a Blair Limestone company 
employe at Blair Four, near Williamsburg, from his home Saturday night, was 
explained by discovery of his lifeless body yesterday morning at the foot of an 
embankment, near an electric power line against which he had fallen in the dark 
and was electrocuted.
  Bromley arose early yesterday and left home to board a train for this city.  
He failed to return in the evening.  His wife became alarmed, a searching party 
was formed but the spot where his death occurred was not visited until 
yesterday.  A voltage of 2,200 passed through his body from the line of the 
Raystown Electric company.
  Deputy Coroner Chester C. Rothrock, this city, investigated the case yesterday 
and decided an inquest unnecessary.  No witnesses were located and the man's 
death was entirely accidental, it is believed.
  Burns on the man's right arm, the back of his right hand and on the left great 
toe show where he came in contact with the deadly wire.  He did not grasp the 
current-conveying line, as palms of his hands were unhurt.  Bruises on his head 
indicated where he had rolled down the hill and struck the stony surface of the 
incline, which is about 30 feet high.
  His body was lying four feet from the bottom of the bank.  About halfway up 
the grade was his hat and nearby his suitcase, locked and unmolested, was picked 
up.  On Bromley's person were a number of Liberty bonds, which had not been 
disturbed in any manner.
  Near where the man met death, is a path leading to the Pennsy station at Blair 
Four, but the route is two or three hundred yards further and Bromley took the 
shorter way.  He climbed the embankment which is being filled in steadily and 
runs parallel with the railroad.  He likely lost his footing on the loose stone 
and earth and was precipitated several feet from the crest of the bank, and 
alighted or struck the power line.
  Bromley worked several years for the limestone company, had no enemies as far 
as is known and nothing else about him would lead to any suspicious [sic] of 
foul play, the authorities state.  He has a wife and three children.  Undertaker 
H. R. Snively, Williamsburg, prepared the body for burial and it will be taken 
to Virginia, the man's native state.

Altoona Tribune, Monday morning, September 9, 1918, page 1, 8