Joseph J. Foy, 37, salesman, rescued Peter Mintchwarner, 15, schoolboy, from electric shock, Trenton, New Jersey, February 18, 1933. After climbing the latticework of a steel tower that was three feet square, Peter sustained a shock from a high-tension wire 59 feet above the ground. He was thrown backward across a six-inch-wide beam. His head and part of his body hung down inside the tower, and his feet pressed against the underside of a wooden crossarm. He was not in contact with any wire, but his feet were close to a line carrying a current of 26,000 volts. Foy, who was inexperienced in climbing, ran to the tower and climbed its face to a point close to Peter. Holding to a bar that sloped up to form the top of the tower, Foy stepped over Peter, got astride the beam, and drew Peter closer to him. As he was moving the boy, one of Peter’s feet moved to within three or four inches of the wire. Foy drew Peter farther from the wire and patted out smouldering fire in his clothing. He then held Peter until a lineman climbed to him and helped him raise the boy to his shoulder. Carrying Peter, Foy descended the latticework inside the tower to a point 20 feet above the ground, and firemen on a ladder then took Peter. Foy rested several minutes and then descended the latticework to the ground. Peter was removed to the hospital and a month later died as the result of his injuries. 32854-2755
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