John Theel, Aged 59 Years, Meets Instant Death When 440 Volts Pass Through His Body.

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FELL AGAINST STARTER

BOX OF LARGE MOTOR

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Charge Entered Right Arm and Came Out Above Heart–Evidently Slipped While Working.

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A very distressing accident occurred at the cereal mill of the Eagle Roller Mill Co. here, yesterday afternoon at about 10:45 o’clock, when John Theel, an employee, aged 59 years and residing on North Jefferson street, was instantly killed as the result of 440 volts of electricity passing through his body. Wm. Gareis, a fellow-workman, found the dead body of the unfortunate man a few moments afterward. Everything possible was done to resuscitate the stricken man, but life was extinct.

Fell Against Starter Box.

There was no eyewitness to the tragedy, but from appearances it seems that Mr. Theel, who was bailing water from the motor room in the basement of the cereal mill at the time, slipped on the wet cement floor and fell against the starter box of the large main electric motor. His right hand got caught behind the lever and came in contact with a live wire. His fingers, hand and arm were burned, and the place where the heavy charge left his body, on the left chest, just above the heart, is marked by two deep flesh burns. A scalp wound, which bled profusely, was evidently caused by the back of his head striking some sharp edge.

Native of Germany.

Deceased was a native of Ruegen Island, Pommerania, Germany, where he was born February 25, 1865. He was married there 34 years ago to Miss Martha Hass, his surviving widow. Of the three children born to them, two sons died in infancy, and the only living daughter, Mrs. Anna Thedens, is at St. Peter. Mr. Theel also leaves five grandchildren and two brothers to mourn his demise. The latter are Herm. Theel, residing near Sleepy Eye, and Wm. Theel, in Germany.

Mr. Theel came to America with his family in 1900, directly to New Ulm, and this city had since been his home. He entered the employ of the Eagle Roller Mill Co. several years ago, working in one of the grain elevators here. Later he worked for the M. & St. L. railroad here for a time and on September 6,1919, accepted a position in the Eagle’s cereal mill. He was a willing and faithful his employee and enjoyed the respect of his employers and fellow-workmen.

Brown County Journal,

Aug. 1, 1924

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