The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-10-09
Al. KILLED ny ELECTRICITY.
Tragic DcRth OF n Workman While
Ci,nngIng Electric Light wires.

New Yon4, October THE danger Of
carelessly handling the wires Of the cleo.
tric lights which are SO .plentiinlly strung
through MI parts Of tho city was star,lingly
cxcmpliiled in the tmgc death Of Joseph
StammRns, n lineman in the employ OF the
Brush Electric Illuminating Company. At
tho time he received the iatul shock STAN.
mans WIS ut work changing the wires from
the old pole on the southeast corner OF
Canal and Elizabeth streets, to new pole
on the southwest corner Of the streets. Ow.
Ing TO the increased height OF tho new
pole II was necessary 10 lenrthcn the wire,
and In order TO do this without interfering
with the current Of electricity, II was neces.
sary to make connections with the wire by
u loop on either side Of the crossbar, so that
the main wire could be severed after both
connections were made, the current pass.
ing through tho wires was OF $4,000 candle
power. The wires ure what are known ny
No. copper wire, an eighth OF an inch in
diameter, and are thoroughly, insulated. To
make the loop connections II was necessary
10 scrape tho insulated material from the
ends OF The wires and connect the naked
ends. The Instructions given 10 lncmcn
by the company are never 10 uncover the
positive and negative wire ut the same
time, but TO finish one connection and have
the naked wire properly "tappcd"-that
is, covered with rubber tape prepared for
tho purpose-before attempting to uncover
the other wire. Shortly before II O'Clock
yesterday morning Stainmans began the
work Of frightening out the wires TO BIZ
shifted. The pole on which he was ut
work is about thirty.iive feet in height,
and the wires TO be manipulated were on
the lowest OF three cross.bars. lie had
been working about ten or fifteen minutes
when Frederick Layman, the assistant
foreman OF the gang employed in the labor,
who was on the sidewalk nj the foot Of the
pole, noticed that there was something
wrong with S,ammans. lie was clu,ching
both the negative and positive wires Of the
line, and was hanging limp and apparently
!Iie!ess against the wires stretched on the
pole. Ills right ley was thrown over the
cross and lie swung in miduir, the wires
prevented him from falling to the side.
walk. Layman summoned olhcr linemcn,
who cl imbed the pole and brought Siam.
mans down. He was unconscious, and his
CHASTITY appearance indicated that he had
received Il terrible electric shock.
Ills comrades carried him TO the
Sixth Precinct Station House, which is
situated within half block OF the place.
a physician was summoned, but could DO
nothing for Stamnans, who died within
ten minutes after being carried into the
station house. The only marks OF violence
or Disagreement Oh the body were on the
palms OF his hands, which were terribly J
burned and blistered. Coroner Brady, who |
was notified, gave 4 permit for the removal
OF the remains Of III. dead lineman from
the station house TO his late residence, No. |
2Ol East Houston street, where IN autopsy
will be made. Stammnns was % years OF |
aga and was married. He had been il, the
employ OF the Brush Company for over
year, and was regarded rs q thoroughly
competent and careful man.
Mr.. William II. Alctimth, the General
Superintendent Of the company, made an
Investigation. and found that Stamnmns
had received the electric shock which
caused his death by carelessly allowing
his hands to come in contact with the
naked ends OF both wires OF the line, thus
forming an arc Of his body or what is
known us Il short circuit, the entire cur.
rent OF electricity passing through his
body. He disobeycd the positive instruc.
ton OF the foreman, who cautioned him
against nncovering both wires at tue same
time. lie had made hall connection on
one wire, and before tapping the naked
en,ls OF the wire lad removed the insu.
latins material from tho other wire, and
while making the loop connection with
this wire. the contact was made with Il
fatal result. Mr.. McGrath said the acci.
dent must be ascribed 10 the rccklessness
OF S.ammans, who had become careless
from the constant handling Of the wires
without accident. 1t is the only serious
accident OF the character that has oc-
Cured in the CITY,"