Obituary Record

Power Lineman Electrocuted by 4000-Volt Charge

Biloxi, Miss., May 17-Guy A. Whitfield, 21-year-old Biloxi employe of Mississippi Power Company, was killed almost instantly at 3:15 p. m. Tuesday when he came in contact with a 4000-volt wire he was splicing.

Whitfield, one of six members of a line crew doing routine maintenance work, was hit by the wire just above his rubber gloves. Other members of the crew said that a pair of connectors slipped out of Whitfield's hand and hit him on the arm.

I. W. Johnson, another power company employe, was on the opposite side of the pole, on the same level as Whitfield, when the tragedy occurred.

After the victim was struck by the wire, members of the crew immediately lowered him to the ground. Crew members said Whitfield apparently showed signs of life for about five minutes after the accident.

Artificial respiration was applied by crew members for more than an hour and an oxygen tank was secured to aid in an attempt to revive the man.

Whitfield resided with his bride of a little over a year, Mrs. Lynda Joyce Barett Whitfield, at 1076 Lameuse st.

A native of Bay St. Louis, Whitfield was a veteran of World War II. He came to Biloxi three months ago from Gulfport where he held a similar job with the power company.

Whitfield is survived by his wife, two brothers, Horace, Gulf-port, and Donald, Mobile, and a sister, Miss Una Whitfield, Jackson.

Source: Times Picayune