The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-28
FALL OF A TELEGRAPH POLE.

NARROW ESCAPE FROM THE MASS or WOOD AND
ENTHUSIASTICALLY OF OTHER POLES.
An accident happened yesterday morning which
came within OF having serious ending. At
eight oclock q telegraph pole fell in College place.
near Barclay street. I. was heavily laden with wires
and broke with q tremendous crash, falling across
the street from west to east. crowded Eighth ave-
nue. car which happened to BIO passing escaped being
CT ushed only by about three feet. The passengers
were badly scared and several ladies screamed with
fright. A truck standing beside the pole when
it fell and the horse starting warned the driver of
his danger. He attempted to drive out of reach OF
tho swinging timber but was prevented by the balk
ing Of the animal. Finally bystander urged the
horse and succeeded in rescuing tho driver
from his perilous position as the pole
peuded about loot mis- head aud threatened
every moment to fall The pole prevented from
striking the opposite building by the wires which
Il supported In it's fall 1t drew tho metal to such
tension to tear away nearly all the glass insuat-
on the next pole and to render unsafe all those
have been fractured SO badly that they will have to
DO replaced by new ones.
the wood, which was found to be very rotten. That
which had ALLEN much decayed that large
pieces crumbled under the 'ouch Us readily as dry
clay In fact. almost every pole in College place was
in tho same condition. The accident yesterday was
not caused by high wind but by the heavy strain
TO which the timber has been tor long time sub
iected. Several days ago another pole tell. aud tho
Condition Of many is alarming. Tho old telegraph
poles were made OF pine and spruce, and at present
only ash and chestnut ire used. But thousands OF
the old ones remain. and IL Is only when pole tails
or on n notification from the Bureau OF Encum-
branccs that any substitution is made.
ACCIDENTS IN PAST.
Three years ago a number OF accidents occurred.
two of which were fatal. On August 10, 1876.
woman named Ann Mcguire passing tho corner
OF Grand and suffolk streets. when rotten tec-
graph pole foil and killed her nangling her body in
n terrible manner. The next day the Common Coun-
ell passed q resolution ordering the telegraph com
pan,es to remove all unused unsafe poles and tho
Coroners Jury in its verdict censured them for
criminal carciessness. Every company denied the
proprotorship of the fatal pole. Eleven days after
ward. on August "a, an employe of the Fire and
police Telegraph Department. named Jeremiah
Teneau. was perched OH a pole ut the corner OF
Malison avenue and 12ith street. when II FELL carry
ing him with It, injuring him terribly. lie died In
few hours and the Coroners jury again censurod the
telegraph companies. The HKRALDs complaint
HOOK was filled with letters from citizens complain
,nu of dccayed poles in different localities and pub
lie feeling was much excited on the subject that
the Legislature passed bill compelling the various
co,upnpies to construct iron poles TO replace the
DANGEROUS wooden ones. The Governor. however.
failed TO indorse the measure by his signature.
AT the Western Union Telegraph Company's Office
yesterday 1t stated that the poles of that limo
were regularly inspected by competent men. rms
wus contradicted by one Of the companys work.
men. who said that no inspection was made, except
Ina which are complained OF TO the superin'en