Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-10-11
SHOCKED OUT or PROPERTY.
How STRAY Electric Current Caused
Some Odd DOings In Front OF New.
ark Church.
Neto York Herdld, Monday.

Some Odd DOinEs In Front OF New.
ark Church.
Neto York Herald, Monday.
Fenced Off by neat iron railing from
the most crowded portion of Market
street stands the Central Methodist
Church of Newark, n. J. Next door is
the furniture store of James Van Horn.
Between the railing and the furniture
store the casual observer would not be
likely to perceive any particular con-
nectiOn, but on Saturday evening there
was decided connection which, al
though not visible to the material eye,
made itself manifest in the most start
ling and unmistakable manner.
Mr.. Van Horn Is an enter
prising man. Ergo, he had an electric
light hung over the door of his store.
The wires conveying electricity to the
lamp hung down the side of the build
ing and run through several iron rings
behind the sign board. These rings are
fastened to an iron beam, which rests
on iron posts, and the latter join the
fence in front of the quiet looking
Methodist church. 1t appears that the
covering of the wires by some means
was worn off at the iron rings through
which they pass and the electric fluid
passed into the iron beams and thence
TO the fence. A few minutes after the
current was turned on, Saturday eve
ming, this innocent looking fence was
converted into first class galvanic bat
terry. Then an old gentleman came
along. He was venerable looking man
and one Of Newark's most reputable
citizens. For moment he stopped in
| front of the sacred edifice and leaned
| instant he uttered a wild whoop and
! danced around the pavement while his
hat rolled into the gutter.
"lt'sdisgraeeful for an old man like
! that to be drunk" said passer by.
And in front of q church, too, added
another.
"I'l 60 and get policeman" said a
| butchers boy IN q white apron, as q
! crowd began 10 collect. The boy started
. of and thes old man tried to explain.
Several men seized the railing TO test
the truth Of his statement, and they,
too, commenced to jump and cavOrt
rOund the pavement, while the air be-
anne suggesti e of sulphur. Just then
TIE policeman arrived. g.
"Ah, what's his?n he exclaimed. "a
flint? And in he public street. Who
commenced thisS'
1t vos the old gent" said the butch
err boy.
It was the fence" explained the old
geneman, indignantly.
",ou've been drinking, sir" said the
guarian of the peice, sternly. "Why
don'SOu keep sober? You ought to be
at hme in the bosom of your family
insted of gallavantin' around the
, streetas tight as tom cat"
At his moment q number OF men
whOSeharacter could Tot be doubted
interftad and vOuched for the truth OF
, the atd paTty's statement. The po-
liceena gingerly touched the fence
with hiclub, and that self-same mo-
I ment ie club went whirling around
? at the Ell of his electrified arm, while
: the CROW scattered on all sides to avoid
contact ith it. ......
D "Eurei.n
An opetor of the Mutual Telegraph
Congratulated by the crowd, came
y forward Of proved In few words that
the cause all the trouble was the
electricityhich had been grounded in
= the fence. The crowd of at least two
Z hundred psous patiently waited and
: enjoyed thun as each new arrival
touched th:harmed railing and then
quoted Seizure in fragments. There
was q lOudsIgh as each member OF
I the church Dir passed through the
i gate and thsexecuted 8 pas SeI on
| the sward Inc. The current of cleo
tricity was tied off at 10 O'Clock, and
thus much PANTY was saved che plus
4 city of Newal The wires will be fixei
4 to-day. =.
\ The ground Of the same wire with
j q wire of the ltual Union Telegraph
i Company felnoments before caused
/ q telegraph inSment in the office OF
1 the company PARTIALLY melt and set
fire TO q keyboaa