Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1883-12-20
DANGER FROM ELECTRIC LIGHT.
Tho Electric Current Heating WiFo
to White Keat--- Death In the Un.
aeon Hnlt

Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.
Beware of the electric light wire as you
would of the jobberwock. One is just as
mysteriously terrible as the other John"
the janitor and champion wrestler of the
gymnasium, got an electric scare the other
day that he has not yet recovered from. 1t
was during the rainy spell. In the midst OF
one of the heaviest showers he was seized
with astonishment on seeing that the electric
light wire running from Boutillier's roof at
the rear into the gymnasium was on fire, as
he expressed it. A telephone message for
help was at once sent to the office OF the
Brush Electric Light company, and Ill the
meantime John undertook to drown out tne
fire. lIe got on the roof, and standing
three feet from the wire, which
was in white heat, he ladled
cup of water from pail and threw
it upon the radiant metal. There was
"sizz,' and John AYERS that some OF tho
water splashod on his arm, sending shock
through him that would have laid out any
less athletic individual He then moved
three feet farther back. and from there
played fireman. There really appeared I'M
minent danger of the roof catching fire, rs
the wire, near where it was heated. passed
thro gh the wooden frame Of skylight
When The expert from the Brush company
arrived, he donncd pair of rubber gloves,
and standing on dry board be cut the wire
in two.
The electric light people affect to think
little of such an occurrence, but several
scientific people, to whose attention 1t has
been brought, say that it is but warning or
a terrible accident that will one day happen.
The worlmen who came to the relief or john
at the gymnasium say that the wire got
heated because Of striking against piece OF
tin, thus forming a ground" He admits
that had the wood been wet-thus making
good conductor-a fire would probably have
occurred. The officials of the Brush Electric
Light company claim that they cover their
wires with the best insulating material
known, but outside electricians say that the
insulation is exceedingly poor aad that the
least rain affects it,
Such an enormous current is employed to
generate the Brush electric light that TO pass
it through the h':man body means death as
instantly as by heavens bolt. 1t will be re-
membered that two weeks ago the slperin-
tendcnt of the company at Dayton-who' OF
course, was thoroughly posted as to the terri
bic dangcr-was killed as by flash in taking
hold of wire. He was fixing lamp, and
to save it from falling lie thoushtlasSly
grabbed the wire. 1t had been raining, and
the current passed right through him.
The firemen are more afraid Of the electric
light wires than they are of fire itself. 80
far the accidents that have happened i'll this
line in Cincinnati, while they have been
startling have not been fatal. 1t has often
happened that an electric light wire in cross
ing telephone wire has formed correction
in wet weather, resulting in melting The
machinery of either the instrument at the
subscribers or at the eXchange-sometlines
both. An accident Of this kind happened a
few days ago on Race street, causing the sub
scriber Of the telephone to call out the fre
department Wha. would have happened
had that current, which was sufficient to
melt brass got inside a mans ear'
Frequently the attention Of pasSer-by Is
attracted to a spark emitted from one OF the
electric Ii ;ht wires running across Fifth and
Vine streets.