Lineman William M. Callahan

William M. Callahan, aged about 45, was instantly killed by electrocution on a 30-foot trolley wire pole next to the Lawrence branch track in front of the Boston & Maine station at 2:45 o'clock yesterday. He was in the employ of the fire department, under C.H. Smart, superintendent of fire alarm and was rewiring Box 23, which was attached to the pole on which he met his death.

He went to work on the fire department yesterday morning, but had at previous times been employed by the department and was an old and experienced lineman, having worked nearly all his life in that capacity for the various telephone and telegraph companies.

Before going to work on the pole, Supt. Smart, who was at work on the fire alarm on Railroad Avenue, warned Callahan to look out for the heavy wires and he replied that he knew all about them.

Callahan had put on a jumper at the top of the pole, to cut out the box while making repairs, and was about to come down when he got the shock. His body had to be extricated from the pole.

This was the first fatal accident from electricity that has ever occurred in town.