New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-03
UNCLAIMED ELECTRICITY.
A"DEAD' WIRE SUDDENLY COMES TO LIFE
IT LAYS Low THREE wonKMES AND A noc-

IT LAYS Low THREE woRKMEN AND DOG
ONE MAN ARRESTED, BUT RELEASED
An electric light wire in Eghth.ave. between
Twentieth and Twenty first sts made things lIye;v
Tor time yesterday afternoon. Three men were
Knocked senseless in as many minutes. q dog re.
ceived so severe shock that il will probably
dle, one man was arrested, and the crowd that
surged about on the sidewalk had their fill Of
excitement and danger for half an hour.
The affair took place on the east side Of ths
street about 80 o'clock, when the sidewalk wac
crowded with people. Wcetern Union foreman
named John s. Fretts came along with four line
men to remove some dead" wires from the
poles The first wire that was cut fell across a
wire carrying day current TO large jewelry
store on the east side Of the avenue. As the two
wires touched, lineman who held one end Of
the dead wire fell unconscious 10 the sidewalk
The crowd rushed about him as he lay notion
less, and 1t was thought for time that he was
dead. His hand was freed from the dangerous
wire, however, and the man was taken across the
avenue to a drugstore, where he was restored to
consciousness after considerable effort
The crowd at this time large and excited
Charles Upper, who keeps restaurant at No.
225 Eighth-ave. questioned Fretts, the foreman,
as to the cause OF the accident and the
ud0HtF 10 ule OnlOOhcIs, Dub ne zoo Dflel ana
unsatisfactory answers. He says he supposed from
the slight attention that was paid TO him that
the danger was over.
No effort had been made by the foreman,
Tupper or any one else 10 disperse the crowd,
and a couple of minutes later two other linemer
dropped to the sidewalk together. The excite
ment at once increased Upper renewed his
talk with the foreman while more practical
man got rubber blanket and stood ON it while
he pulled the unconscious men beyond the reach
Of the dangerous WIRE These men proved not TO
be so seriously hurt as the first workman had
been, and they recovered within few minutes
Tupper's big Newfoundland dog Dash, magni1-
cent black fellow and prize-wlnner at the New
York bench show of two winters ago, was let
out of the shop, and started TO reach his master
in the crowd. Dash's nose came in contact with
the dangling wire and the great beast measured
his length on the sidewalk even more quickly
than the men had done. AS he lay there, notion
less and apparently dead, the sight was too much
for the master, who called policeman ana had
Fretts arrested and taken to the Jefferson
Market Court. Here Fretts said that he
had been assured by the United States
Illuminating Company, TO whom the wire be.
also ordered lineman who was on one OF the
poles to cut the light wire when upper nrst
spoke TO him, but the lineman had not been able
10 reach the wire.
Upper said that he should not have, com
planned Of the foreman If the latter had made any
effort to clear the street or TO protect the crowd
and if his men had not seemed to be under the
influence of liquor. The Judge said there was no
criminal charge under which Fretts could be held,
and told Tupper that his remedy lay IN civil
suit against the company for the loss OF ms a92
The dog, however, is not dead. After lying
upon the charged wire ten or fifteen minutes
som ebody discovered signs 4 life, and carried
Dash into his masters house. dog surgeon was
called. and last night Dash was still living. al
though his death is expected.