TELEPHONE LINEMAN MEETS TRAGIC DEATHHEMAN YOUNG IS ELECTROCUTED WHILE WORKING ON POLE NEAR RYANA Terrible accident which instantly extinguished the life of a Manchester young man, occurred near Ryan last Saturday morning. A Number of linemen, of which Herman Young was one, in the employ of the Delaware County Telephone Company, were working on the new line one and one-fourth miles from the McKeever farm near Ryan. They had connected special wires with the mainline, intending to run them to the new residence of Mr. Rissler. As the building was not quite ready for the installation of the wires they were coiled on the ground at the foot of one of the poles. At the suggestion of some one, Herman Young picked up the coils and hanging them over his arm, ascended the pole his intention being to fasten the coils near the top of the pole in order to keep them out of the way.Within a few fee of him ran a high tension wire of the Central City Electric Service Company. No body knows exactly how the accident happened. it is thought that Herman, in trying to swing the coils in his hand onto the cross arm of the pole, in order to fasten them there, must have caused them to come in contact with the high tension wire, which at this time was carrying a current of 16, 500 volts. He was killed instantly, but was prevented from falling to the ground by his waist strap which attached him to the pole. His body, however sagged backward so as to bring his neck in contact with the high tension line. His clothing was in flames in an instant, and severe burns were inflicted. A brave and daring act was then performed by Edwin Goen, another lineman, who quickly ascended the pole and at risk of his own life severed the high tension wire with a pair of pliers.Claude Heman Young, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lester Young, was only 20 years of age. He was born in Edgewood, Iowa, on Oct 1. When he was two years old, his parents removed to Greeley, where they continued to live until about six years ago, since which time they have made their home near Manchester. Heman had been in the employ of the Telephone company for about two years. He was a promising young man, and it is not only a terrible blow to his parents but seems a tragedy for him that his career was so suddenly cut short. He had many friends, and the magnificent floral tributes at the funeral gave evidence of his own popularity as well as of the sympathy of the community for his people.The services were conducted on Monday last at 2:00 P. M. Rev. Dr. Beatty of the Methodist church being in charge. The body when taken form the pole, was immediately removed to Brown's undertaking parlors. Later, Mr. Brown, the county coroner, impanelled a jury consisting of J. J. Dolphin, W. H. Ward, and E. E. Coakley, who after inquiring into the facts, returned the following verdict: The said jurors on oath do say: We find that the said deceased came to his death by accident. Cause, coming in contact with the high tension wire of the Electric Service Company of Central City, Iowa, while employed in constructing a telephone line to the residence of Alfred Rissler.Manchester Democrat - Manchester, Iowa - July 2, 1919