LINEMAN KILLED ANOTHER INJURED WHEN POLE FALLS.

EMMETT HUGHES WAS ON POLE WHEN IT SNAPPED OFF.

One lineman was killed and another is near death from injuries sustained when a Missouri Power and Light Company pole snapped off near the intersection of Monroe Street and the Tanner Bridge Road shortly before noon today.
EMMETT HUGHES, 706 Ohio Street, veteran lineman died instantly and MIKE ROARK suffered a fractured skull. Attending physicians said that the full extent of his injuries had not been ascertained.
The work of securing power wires to a new pole which had replaced an old one had just been completed when the new pole snapped within a foot of the ground, hurling HUGHES to the road. The pole fell upon him and crushed his skull.
Officials of the power company said they had not ascertained definitely how ROARK was injured, but it was assumed he had been hit by the falling pole.
Company officials said the pole was new, had been tested and creosoted and they could not explain what caused it to snap.
The old pole was being removed and the men believed they were nearing the end of the job when the accident occurred. One man volunteered the opinion that weight of the wires was too much for the new pole.
Doctors, the fire department pulmoter and an ambulance were rushed to the scene when the accident was reported. It was first reported the men had been electrocuted.
The county coroner viewed the remains but did not immediately call for an inquest.
HUGHES' body was taken to the Tanner Funeral Home, and ROARK was removed to the hospital.
HUGHES is survived by his wife and seven children. A son, Private Harold Hughes, is here on furlough from Camp Lee, Va. The oldest daughter, Mrs. Gilbert Ralston, is here visiting from Washington.

Jefferson City Post Tribune Missouri 1944-03-27
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!