Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-10-24
An Electric Shock from a Sink.
Ithaca Journal


Last evening as Hrs. Harriet Hol-
lister, wife of Timothy Hollister, OF
No "a Aurora street, was turning on
the water from the faucet over the
sink in her kitchen, using her right
hand, her left hand being IN contact
with the iron lining of the sink. she
was suddenly Frustrated by severe
electric shock. Mrs. HOLSTERS first
thought was that she had been stricken
with paralysis or apoplexy, and that
was also the opinion of her family.
Dr.. E. ]. Morgan. ST., was summon
ed, and found that the inside of the
thumb of her left hand had been
blistered in several places. This led
him to believesthat Mrs. Hollister had
received strong electric shock from
some source. About twenty minutes
after her mother had been so pecul-
iarly affected, Miss Hollister, in draw
ing water from the sane faucet, also
received shock, although not so
strong as the first one had been. The
family then became convinced that
the trouble existed IN the water-pipe
and sink. This morning Manager
Wolverton, of the telephone ex-
change, after brief examination of
the premises, found the secret of the
trouble. Mr.. HOLSTERS residence
was connected with the Ithaca hotel
by dead" private telegraph wire.
This wire had been crossed with the
electrichght wire The dead" wire
was connected with the metallic roof
on Mr. HOLSTERS house, which, in
tI1r,, hu tin
conductor with the water-pipe leading
to the sink. When the dynamo ma
chine of the electric light company
was in operation the current passed
over the dead" wire to the tin roof,
and themes to the water pipe. 1t
needed only the completion of the
circuit by Mrs. Hollister to obtain the
the full benefit of an artificial stroke
of lightning. Mrs. Hollister is about
the house today as well as ever. 1t is
needless to say the dead" wire will
be removed at once.
A Wonderful Inhabitant of st. frain
Friday evening says the Boulder
News, William Galatin and Dennis
McCloy, a couple of railroad graders,
arrived from fishing and hunting
trip in the country northeast. On
their way home, while stopping on
the st. Nrain stream short distance
from the mouth of the canyon, they
relate having seen some species of
water monster, similar to an immense
serpent, in the above stream. At the
point where it was observed the water
was still and rather deep. The first
| thing that attracted their attention
was sound emanatlng from the
stream, resembling the sissing of a
snake; the next was heavy splash as
though a board had been thrown into
! the water. When looking in the di
rection from which the sound came
they noticed that the surface of the
water was considera bly, disturbed, and
the tail of som? object just passing
from sight. Being excited at the sight
they stood in wonderment, awaiting
temperance of the mysterious Oh
| ject. In few moments dark color
ed object cautiously arose to the sur
face At first it was thought that an
otter had been discovered, but when il
had stretched its full length upon the
water, this thought quickly vanished.
The body was July five inches in
diameter, and from ten to twelve feet
ia length, Of a glossy dark brown
color, and apparently as smooth as an
ordinary eel. The head was neatly
shaped, the eyes very large and pierc
ing, resembling those of a seal. The
sight was truly grand, and to use their
| has aclypI rvb hon
did not shoot it, said at was SO beau
tiful, SO striking, that we never
| thought of harning it, but we stood
there perfectly charmed, if there b.
such thing. At the expiration of
about half a minute one of us
spoke to the other, when it suddenly
disappeared from sight and did not
reappear, thought we remained upon
the bank until after dusk of evening. y
In describing 1t more infinitely, Mr.
Galatiu said that the mouth seemed to
be kept under water, and he could not
tell whether any tushS or teeth were
therein. but just al water edge
seemed to be nostrlls, as lie could see
the flesh move, caused by breathing.
The tail was about two inches wide,
and laid fiat upon the water. In the
spring of 1864, while crossing the
Platte river at Kearney, Mr.. G., says
he saw similar object in the water,
which has haunted him ever since, and
he accounts for the appearance Of this
monster in the st. Vrain as coming
from the Platte river during high
water in this mountain stream. Will
our scientists tell US what this strange
visitor is?