New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-10
ANOTHER LINEMAN KILLED
ELECTRIC WIRES ADD TO THEIR LIST OF
VICTIMS.
THE BODY HANGS on THE POLE FOR HALE An
HOUR BEFORE POLICEMEN PULL
IT DOWN.


Electric light wires killed another man IN TINS
city yesterday. This time the fatal accident oc-
CURED north Of the Harlem River. Peter Ciau-
sen, an athletic fnc-looI,ing young lneman IN
tie employ of the North New-Y orS Electric Lght-
ing Compapy. met his death as he WAS at work
repairing one Of the commny's defective wires at
Third-ave and One-hundred-and- ffty-siAth-st.
The pole on which Clausen was at work STANDS
close to the stairway which leads up to station
of the Suburban Elevated Railroad, and Is IN iront
of the fat-house No. 3.O47 Third-ave 1t Is
about thirty feet high and has two cross-arm'
Several telegraph and telephone wires are fastened
10 the upper arm while the lower arm supports
two electric light wires The latter wires are
covered with white rubber One wire, after leaN-
ing the pole, enters the drug store on the hrse
floor of the hat-house and then goes on to the
next pole, the electric light inside the store peihs
the connection of the loop The insulation OF the
wire had become worn off near the pole, ana
Clausen was sent there yesterday to repair IL.
lie climbed up the pole soon after p. m
few minutes later little Mamie Dahl, who was
playing in front of the drug store, heard Missing
noiSe, and looked up at the lineman. Sne saw
a blush light and smoke issuing from his right
hand. which was closed tightly upon the wire
His chin hung over the other wire The spurs
on his legs stuck in the pole and kept him from
falling while his body shook and twisted about.
Mamie ran up to her mother, on the third noor,
screaming and crying with fright. Mrs. Dam
went to IA front window and saw Clausen hanging
on the wires His body was heaving convul-
sively as if he was in great agony Mrs Relchle,
who lived on the second floor of the house, also
looked out at the doomed man. Both women
shouted TO men on the platform of the elevated
station, and the men joined in the outcry.
crowd gathered in the avenue, and three
policemen appeared. They were RoundSman
Thomas Murphv and Patrolmen Giday and kuht-
mann, of the Morrisania Squad. The stairway lead
ing to the elevated station is covered and the tin
roof is only few feet below the lower cross
arms of the telegraph pole. The policemen went
up ON the station, crossed over the down track
and got on the roof of the stairway. Then they
we're within easy reach of Clauscns body, but
they did not dare to touch II. The fatal wire was
eating It's way into his right hand ana forearm,
while his chin hung over the other wire. HIS
/ body formed the connection between the wires,
and a constant sputtering showed that it was
charged by the dangerous current o..
The officers borrowed a clothes-ne. passed 1t
about Clausen's body and tried to pull him down
upon the roof of the stairway but, although they
eXerted force enough To break the rope, they
failed to get him awoy from the wires. ihonas
Smith. "A driver. of No q, ,O37 Ihlrd-aVe., who WIS
helping the policemen, accidentally touched one
Of the wires and fell the tin roof. HIS mana
was burned severely, and he received "A painful
shock but was able TO go home alor The
policemen procured stronger rope got II s.
curely fastened about Clausen's waist and pulled
again without result Then Policeman Gidiy
borrowed hatchet and cut one Of the wires
Causen's body iell upon the tin roof after
having hung 10 the wires for more than half an
hour DR. DAILY, of No. 563 East ene-hundred-
land ii ftieth-st.. examined the body and said he
could do nothing, as Clausen was dead a
wagon carried the corpse to the police station.
Later another lneman fixed up the broken wire.
The police learned that Clausen was Dane,
living at No. j5l East One-hundred- thirty
sixth-st Policeman Schorske broke the news of
her husbands death 70 Mrs. ClauSen a gently
as possible but she became deriOus with grief,
and il was necessary to send for physician.
Coroner Schultze went 10 the police station last
evening and gave permit for the removal OF
Causens body to the home of the grief-StrcIen
widow He said he would make thorough
Investigation OF the case.