The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-10-17
KILLED BY ELECTRICITY.

A LIncman's Horrible End In n Network OF Wires.
The lifeless body of man suspended In mid
air 10y network Of wires in which ho had met
a sudden aud awful death. the odoT OF burning
human flesh aud stream of blood falling from
a gaping wound that almost severed the head
from the body. and forming in pool on the
sidewalk below, WAS the horrible spectacle that
awed thousands OF people in the neighborh0od
of the City Hall, Nav York City, at MONDAY
on Saturday last The body was that Of John
T.. II. Eseks. a Western Union lincman. But a
moment or two before. ia the prime OF life.
strength aud bounding health. he had mounted
the pole at the corner Of Chambers aud Center
streets, at the order Of Superintendent Damon.
TO cut away the dead w!res live electric
light wire amid the web Of steel quickly made
II manglc,l corpse of what SO recently was liv-
ing. breathing mortal.
Feeks bad thrown one leg over the topmost
crosspicce, aud had barely begun hls task when
one Of his workmatca on this sidewaik glanced
up. Horror-stricken by tho sight that met
his gaze he screamed sec. what Is that ?
Feeks is bnrnng The wires are burning him
up! For Gods sake, save him
Save him. Who could save him2 John
Feekgg life went out forever when his hand
touched the deadly wire.
The moment the current struck him he fell
forward his head turned backward IN last
desperate and agouizing CONFUSION. Then lac
became rigid stone.
As though animated 10y the relentless fury Of
a savage gloaiing over the torture and mutila-
ton of a victim at the stake. tho fierce, hot,
kissing wires pressed against the helpless clay,
cutting sickenmR aud CHASTITY wound across
the dead mans face burning its llyid line
about his throat cutting ia way through the
windpipe aud nearly seyeflng tho head from
the body.
Soon the multitude passing 10 and fro ut the
lunch hour in the heart of the city was at
tracted TO the awful spectacle. From the
| Bridge, from City Hall Park, from broadway
aud from every direction they came pouring
| in until thousands were assembled TO witness
the awful sight.
So revolving in its bloodiness was the tragedy
! that the crowd became almost panie-stricke en-
/ Loud shouts 10 save him were uttered Loud
| curses against The electrical ght companies were
vented, aud yet no one brave enough TO fac,
/ the danger could be- found The police were
| for the time paralyzed and could do nothing
| with the surginR mob.
Finally, two men, Martin Cunningham ant
James Mcdonald, volunteered 10 rescue th,
body. That they were fearful of the DANCE
was evident. As they drew on the Tubbe
gloves and prepared TO mount the pole thei
faccs were pale aud they trembled violently.
But they didn't hesitate. Cunningham wen
up first, closely followed by Mcdonald.
Reaching the bleeding, burning corpse. the,
cautiously seated themselves on tho cr0ssha
aud proceeded 10 cut away the wires. As the
snapped them asandeT fire and smoke belche
forth from Feeks's mouth, and the wires fe
SIZZLING into the street below.
The falling Of the wires caused wild STAN
pede the crowd frantically endeavoring to 20
out Of the way. For moment the oxcitemen
WAS intense beyond description.
Before cutting the wires Cunningham an
| his companion had secured a rope arOun
FeeIs's body, and the moment the body WI
free il was lowered carefully into the street be
low and carried into the engine house on Oh
| corner.
The awful work Of the wires was now MOI
evident. Feeks's face was burned almost b.
, yOnd recognition. The wire which had claspe
his throat nearly decapitated him. Other wr,
which had come in contact with his hands an
! body had burned them shockingly. 1t was
sight never TO be forgotten.
DIR. Jenkins, who has viewed all of the ele,
tric-wire victims, said: This case is by far I'll
worst Of any. IL is terrible. Feeks probably sn
fered but little beyond the very first shock, Il
, the instant his hand touched that wire he WI
a dead man
The latest victim of overhead electric wir,
aud corporate defiance OF law and public sent
ment is the sixth that has been added within
month 10 the long and bloody roll Of lives sa
ri6ced beneath the wheels of this modern ia,
gernaut.