TWO ELECTROCUTED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18590, 28 December 1934, Page 5

TWO ELECTROCUTED

A BROTHER AND SISTER

TOUCHED A “CHARGED”

WIRE

MACLEAN, N.S.W., Dec. 13. A distressing double tragedy occurred at 6 o’clock this morning on a farm at Townsend, about two miles from Maclean. A man -and .woman were instantly killed through being electrocuted. Ilie victims were Frederick Skinner, 25, and his sister, Lucy Skinner, 28, single, son and daughter of a farmer and maiket gardener named William Skinner. A flying fox, it is supposed, came in contact with the transmission wires ot the Clarence River County Council electric service, carrying power of 11,UW volts. The service passes along Gulmarrad road to Yamba. One of the wires burnt through by the contact, and fell on to a wired fence adjoining the roadway. Mr. Alfred Towell, who lives close by, was driving a dairy herd along the road, when he saw one of his cows near the fence fall down. After a brief struggle the animal died. ' , , . , Mr. Towell’s ca.ll for help brought Frederick Skinner to investigate. On lifting the latch of a gate passing through the wired fence surrounding the paddock adjacent to the roadway, lie was instantly electrocuted. Ills sister Lucy heard cries, and she met the fate of her brother on running to his assistance. A younger brother, Harold, went to a near neighbor for help, luckily getting through the fence without any harm. Daphne Skinner, who also went to her brother and sister’s aid, was not so fortunate. She received a severe shock through the arm. The parents of the deceased and a brother were holidaying at (he seaside. Two other sons and daughters were at borne working the farm and house during their parents’ absence.