Franz believed that electricity is like a cow. The raw material goes in the mouth and good electrictiy exited out the tail and left over energy was waste the cow pooped out, ie the 3 wires you see in your house black (hot),white (Hot) and green (cold for waste energy). Deryl worked for Franz from August 1995 until this event in around the end of November 1995. A windstorm blew through and took out the electricity for the area. Franz had Deryl hook up a generator. When the electricity came back on the Generator had to be taken off line. Remember, this is a full size dairy, with large leads into the circuit box.

Franz was a cheap man, and had the circuit box 2 times smaller than required. He never kept master plans for the property, so no one really knew where the wiring or the plumbing went, everything had been committed to his memory…

Franz convinced my husband to reconnect the dairy, he would not spend $60.00 to have the main breaker pulled at the pole, so everything in the small box was hot. Deryl put on long rubber gloves, and taped up his wrench. Franz never wore socks so his leather slip on shoes were wet with cow urine and feces, Humidity in Oregon was high (87% or greater), so there was a lot of moisture and cow urine,feces everywhere at the dairy. Franz stood 10 feet back in a shirt and rolled up pants, while my husband wore long sleeves and welding clothes. Deryl got half way through pulling the leads off of there protective poles, 2 off and 2 on.

Suddenly, the poles arced and the lid to the box instantly vaporized. Both men flew backwards, and fortunately, for once, Franz learned that the cow can butt. I met my husband at the door that night to see a man with no face hair, smoking, and a good portion or his chest hair gone. I never saw Franz after this event, but I can imagine. He had less protection. The power company was called the next day and they put things right. Franz never had children, nor should he, thank goodness.

Submitted on 11/11/2006

Submitted by: Sonja Hand
Reference: personal account

Copyright © 2006 DarwinAwards.com

Graham said:
Neutral: Personal Account
Their actions alone here confirm they KNEW the danger electricity posed, yet they persisted. It could have been a great deal worse than it was. Thanks for your submission

James said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
Thanks for submitting, Sonja! I'm glad your husband survived this incident; it seems he had no choice but to do as his "employer" asked! As for this transplanted German peasant? That mook got what was coming to him! Whether or not he ker-fraaatzed himself to oblivion is irrelevant; this is a good PA of the "morality tale" variety, and the readers should enjoy it!

Jorge said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account

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