The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-26
IT DID NOT KILL.
FIFTEEN HUNDRED VOLTS THROUGH
H. M. sTEvENs's BODY.
After Being Apparently Dead for Over
an Hour the Electrician Recovered
During Intense Agony-H Body q
Human Kaleidoscope.

received shock equivalent TO 500 volts
the greatest on record, so far as known.
The fact that he recovered, after awful ag-
ony, and is today a healthy and robust
man, argues strongly against the claim of
electrical experts that electricity affords a
simple and eilicacious method OF produc.
ing death.
In view Of murderer Reminders efforts
in New York State TO escape tho execution
OF his death sentence by electricity, the
testimony OF Mr.. Stevens is very interest
ing at this time. He is assistant super
intendent Of the Boston Electric
Light Company, and today gave the
World correspondent full account Of
his remarkable contact with the mysterious
electric fluid. lie was superintendent,
four years ago this summer, of the Middle
sex Electric Lighting Company, in Lowell.
In making tour OF inspection OF the ma
chimes he came in contact with the brushes
OF n thiriy-fiye light dynamo. lie slipped
upon an oily spot upon the floor, fell for.
ward, instinctively put out both hands to
save himself and unwittingly grabbed with
either hand the positive and negative
brushes of the machine. A circuit was
completed, with his body as the medium,
and force OF electricity equal to $4,000
candle-power, or about 900 volts, shot
instantaneously through him and pros
trated him violently in the field Of the
machine.
There he lay for few seconds, the cur
rent all the time entering his body, until
finally, from his own weight, he dropped
off TO the floor. To all appearances he
was dead. All this happened in less time
than II takes to describe IL. The shock
was sufficient to kill an ordinary man. Ac.
cording to the best electrical opinion,
Murderer Kemmler, in New York, will
receive no greater charge. Stevens how
ever, was not dead, and his recovery is
probably the most remarkable part OF his
strange experience.
They picked him up aud carried him
away. DIR. Brissel. OF Lowell was sum.
moned. The pulse and the heart showed
no signs Of life. The eyes were set, the
limbs were rigid and the arms were drawn
close to the body. The flesh was cold
and the bloody gashes between the fingers
were apparent, showing where the flesh
had been burned. The doctors went TO
work earnestly enough, but the case was
one in which the symptoms were alto.
gether unknown 10 medical science. They
pried open the mouth and poured big
glass OF whisky into the stomach. Ii
had no effect.
Next the medical men pounded and
rubbed for an hour, but the body never
moved n muscle. The miraculous now
occurred. This man had all the time been
insulated with enough electricity in his
system 10 charge another machine. lie
had been lying all the while on the floor.
An attendant at the station suggested
placing the body on the ground where il
was damp. This was done and tho man
began 10 revive. After an hour the pa.
tent became conscious, but il was the
consciousness Of agony. The electricity
was slowly passing out Of the body into
the ground.
Stevens suffered terribly for four hours
after consciousness. lie kept gasping for
breath, and tried TO arliculatc, but could
not. They gave him more whisky, and
continued the rubbing and pounding pro-
cess. and finally he was able 10 be removed
20 his room in the st. Charles Hotel. Ey-
cry faculty and function had been para
lyzcd, but one by one they.rcgaincd some.
thing like their normal condition. The
legs felt alternately as II they had been am
putated at the knees, or again rs II they had
been heightened out until they were a
block long and tapered 10 point. On
one leg, above the knee, were two light
blue spots.
After docloring him for a couple Of
weeks the physicians brought him around,
but from that day TO this Mr.. Stevens has
carried the reminders Of that terrible charge
Of 800 volts In his body. lie Is a sort oi
dynamo all in himself. lie Ia very sensi.
tive 10 the approach or presence Of n thun.
der storm, and always feels depressed
during its continuance.
do believe in killing n man by cleo.
iricityf" he exclaimed, when asked vha,
he thought OF executing man In that
way. mo. do not don't believe the
| profession knows enough about electricity
yet 10 warrant them attempting 10 kill d
man with H. All electricians know that
different men are differently affected by
electricity. Some can stand alittle, Others
more and some can take AN enormous
charge without fatal result. This must be
borne in mind In giving a man a charge,
and IL Is especially important In the case
OF executing n murderer. Suppose they
don't give him enough and lac RECEIVERS, rs
did, what torture he must suffer- And
why shouldn't he recover and fool tho
electricians II he's naturally strong
man, has no heart trouble aud Is well pre-.
served, the chances arc that ho will pull
through II they give him the opportunity.
Or again. II he has beer n labofcr, accus.
toned 10 manual labor or exposure 20 the
sun for long time, his flesh must ncccs.
sarily have become more or less hardened,
that Is, insulated. and the electricity would
have loss effect upon him.
There are ever 10 many foe points "a
be considered; and from what ! know
from personal observation "a q practical in.
vcsiigaior Of the workings OF electricity,
think its q very risky thing 10 try 10 exc,
cute this kommler by electricity. The
science IL not far enough removed from ihc
experimental stage ~ yet. | am IN favor
Of the old.fashioned hangman's rope, aud
II can help kcmmler - escape his death
sentence by electricity, am willing 10 do
70 by any means IN my power"
Another remarkable thing about Mr.
Sleyens's experience Is that after recovery
he began 10 gain flesh rapidly. Al the
time he weighed 1856, and In six months
he tipped tho beam at l6j, and ioda,
weighs close 10 100. Ito says IL IL due L
the electricity. but Just why ie cannot say
|
Gone Co Nee, Her Husband.
Pun ADrLpfffA Pa June g5-Mn