Charles Jordan

Jul 19, 1940 - Sep 24, 1959

Two teen-aged South Bend brothers were electrocuted Thursday night when a 46-foot radio antenna pole they were attempting to erect accidentally touched a 7,200-volt power distribution line.

Dead are Charles Jordan, 19, and his brother, Richard, 15, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Jordan. 550 N. Twyckenham Dr. A third brother, Michael, 10, had let go of the pole moments before it touched the high-voltage wires, thereby saving his life. The two victims were pronounced dead in St. Joseph's Hospital by Dr. Harry A. Ludwick, deputy St. Joseph County coroner, who said the youths killed instantly when their bodies were. grounded the "live" antenna pole. The accident occurred about p.m. in the back yard of the Jordan home. The pole was topped by an antenna for a short wave radio set recently acquired by Charles Jordan, a "ham" radio enthusiast who qualified for his short wave radio operator's license six days ago.

Leaves for Homework.

The boys had been attempting to wrestle the tall, hard-to-handle pole into place for about an hour. A neighbor boy, 15, had been assisting the Jordan brothers until about 7:30, when he went home to do his homework. As the pole tipped and came in contact with an Indiana & Michigan Electric Co. primary distribution line, Charles apparently had his hands on the pole, trying to steady it while Richard was working a guy wire.

Richard's body was found about six feet from the pole when police and firemen arrived after the accident. He was still holding a guy wire. Charles' body was under the leaning pole. Both youths were severely burned where they were in contact neighbor, with Miss the pole.

A neighbor, at 556 Twyckenham, told officers she was talking on the telephone in her home and was looking out a window when the pole made contact with the power line. "It looked like a dozen Roman candles going off all at once," she said. There were two explosions, Miss Kiel added. The flash of the contact was seen as far away several blocks from the accident spot. A driver said it looked like a flash of lightning from a distance.

Police and firemen separated the bodies from the pole and guy wire with wooden poles to guard against further electrocutions in case the pole was still "live." A detail of police and firemen kept observers away from the pole until an I & M employee determined that the line was dead. I & M spokesmen said the grounding tripped a circuit breaker, stopping current through the distribution line, moments after contact was made.

The mother and younger brother of the two victims rode to St. Joseph's Hospital in one, of two ambulances that carried the Jordan youths.

The father, owner of the Art Jordan Contractors Equipment Company at 719 Wilber St., arrived at the hospital shortly after his sons were brought there. Michael Jordan later told police that the pole was weaving just before it touched the high-voltage line. He said he backed away from the pole as it wavered. The high-voltage line carries electricity to homes in the area. Feeder lines run from it to provide house current step down the voltage to 110 or 220 volts on the feeder lines.

The elder of the two victims, Charles Jordan, attended the South Bend-Mishawaka Center of Indiana University. Richard was a student at John Adams High School.

The Jordans have two other children, John, 24, a lieutenant junior grade in the U.S. Navy stationed aboard the USS Hornet, and William, 21, who is attending the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. 'The bodies of Charles and Richard are in the Orvis Funeral Home. Both youths were born in South Bend, Charles on July 19, 1940, and Richard on Dec. 20, 1943.

Charles graduated from Central High School in 1958, and had attended Valparaiso University for one year. Richard, a sophomore at Adams, was a member of the film club at the high school and was an Explorer Scout. Both brothers were members of the Walther League of St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

Surviving besides the parents and three brothers are the grand-parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Rohwedder, of Hobart, and Mrs. Charles A. Jordan, of Peoria, Ill.

Friends may call in the funeral home after 1 p.m. Saturday.

Sources: Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com and FindAGrave.com

11/14/2025 EJS