Charles Koob 11, Sixth grade pupil of Doxee school, and grandson of
Mr. and William HOFFMAN who resides on the Knoxville Road, southeast of Milan, was electrocuted at 7 O'clock last
evening, when he tossed a stone weighted wire across a tension power line, and instantly received 4400 volts.
The tragedy was discovered by Kenneth Rettig, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Rettig, who lives across the road. Help
was quickly summoned and the Rock Island rescue squad responded, but efforts to revive the little boy failed. Seven
tanks of oxygen were used and artificial respiration applied for nearly four hours in a futile attempt to save
the little boys life.
An old aerial wire, with an insulator attached to one end of it, lying in the yard of the Hoffman home, apparently
had attracted the boys attention and he is believed to have been swinging it, and whirling it about, when it came
into contact with the high tension power line, throwing the full force of the high voltage into his little body,
killing instantly. A finger on either hand was badly burned by the terrific electrical current.
LIVED WITH HIS GRAND PARENTS
Charles Koob, who has made his home with his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. William Hoffman, SR. Since his birth, was
born Jan. 30, 1931 in Rock Island. He is the son of Richard Koob SR. and the late Mrs. Clara Hoffman Koob. Charles
was a pupil of the Doxee school, being a member of the sixth grade. He attended Sunday school at the Milan Presbyterian
church.
He is survived by his father, Richard Koob of Dayton, Ohio, a brother Richard Dewain of Rock Island, a half brother
Jerry Lee of Dayton, his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. William Hoffman SR., and his paternal grandmother
Mrs. Violet Koob of Rock Island. His mother preceded him in death, Feb. 2, 1937. He is also survived by three uncles
and one aunt.
An Inquest into the boys death was held at 1 O'clock this afternoon at the Knox Mortuary in Rock Island, where
the body was taken last night. Funeral arrangements had not been made but it is expected that services would be
held Saturday at the Evangelical Church of Peace in Rock Island, with pastor Rev. R.J. Rolf officiating. Interment
will be in Chippiannock cemetery Rock Island.
Contributed by Ellen Schawe.
