St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-10-15
DANGERS OF ELECrRICITY.

That was horribly tragic scene wit
messed in New York last Friday, and
most graphically has it been described by
the World. where over 800 people, in
Guiding many prominent officials of the
CITY, stood on the sidewalk for full forty
minutes watching man roast TO death.
1t was not the unfortunate victim of
holocaust who had been cut off from eS-
cane from a burning building, for there
might have been possibility Of res
cue; OF, at the worst, the sufferers
agony would have soon been over, and
the flame and the smoke would have
been merciful enough to conceal the
horrid death scene from public view. But
twas a lineman who had fallen into
network of electric wires. and for nearly
three-uuarters of an hour the hor-
ror-stricken crowd in the street
below watched the untold agony
on the mans face, and saw
the blush flame and smoke that
emitted from the roasting body. This
being the eighth New York citizen posi-
lively known TO have been killed by
badly insulated wires within the last
few months, and the horror of such
death scene being so wildly impressed
upon so many of the prominent citizens
of the metropolis, has naturally started
a discussion of the dangers of the over
head electric wires and of the perpetual
menace they are to the lives of per-
sons who suppose they are absolutely
free from danger. The views of ALEX
AMBER WEIGH. a practical and theo-
retical electrician who has been for
long time employed in Mr.. EDISON's
laboratory, are of particular value in this
connection. Mr.. WEIGH calls attention
to the fact that death-dealing currents
of electricity are Tunning about all over
the heads OfpeOple who live in the cities,
day and night, strong enough to kill any
man. 1t is not alone the electric light
wires that may Kill one, tor perhaps
somewhere off in another street, perhaps
miles away. the wind has blown an are
light wire against an iron roof which
is connected with the telephone wire
that comes into your room or your Of
fee. Death does not stop at the door.
but comes right into the house. and
perhaps as yOn are closing a door or
turning on or off the gas you are killed.
MIR. WEIGH advances the theory that
heart disease is not on the increase, as
is popularity supposed, but that many
of the sudden deaths reported from
heart disease are really due to electric
shocks received in this subtle manner.
There is no knowing where you may
strike the current. 1t may be by lean
ing against or touching an iron post. OF
it may be by simply touching pict-
ure wire suspended from the wall
which is in connection with an iron
rafter or hook that touches some
metal plate; an iron water pipe, gas
fixture, the knob of your door bell, OF
any metallic substance that would
answer for conductor. The fact that
deaths do not occur more frequently
from this cause. in Mr.. WEIGHS
opinion, is a tribute TO the careful
management of the electric companies.
1t is 0aly by careful work and close
watching that the danger from crossed
wires can be averted. But the only
sure Way to reduce the danger to a
minimum IS to lay the wires under
ground. In fact, there is hardly anv
danger about the conduit system if the
cOnduits are properly constructed. But
as long as the overhead systemOf string
ing wires remains there is no safety,
and danger turks ali around us.