St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-11-04
FELLED LIKE AN OK.
"A Policeman Strangely Stricken
in u Storm.


| New York World.
Policeman Henry Fenker. OF the
mounted squad of the Thirty-third pre-
cinct station, in Morrisania, had a tussle
with lightning or dynamic electricity
shortly before noon yesterday which
very nearly approached fatal result.
Fenker was at the corner of Union and
Westminster avenues engaged IN sending
| signal to the station house. 1t was
during heavy thunder storm, and the
| lightning was flashing almost inceS-
| sanity. Fenker knew that metal box
was dangerous thing to NEEDLE with
| under such circumstances, but police
laws are very strict, aud it meant a fine
| OF several days pay to neglect sending
in the signal. He dismounted from his
| horse, and, passing his arm through the
| bride, opened the box. In order to turn
! in signal the sender must turn
crank half way around the metal plate
with the left hand, and touch button
| with the right
The ground being slippery, Fenker
leaned closely against the box, his brass
buttons touching the metal outside.
Though the crank and the buttons are
covered with hard rubber, the damp
ness of the weather and the presence
of lightning made the duty quite risky
one. While he was sending a second
tap binding fash of fire, accompanied
10y sulphurous blue smoke. filled the
small interior of the box, and
of thunder. Fenker's left arm
fell helpIessly by his side, and he sank
heavily to the ground. The frightened
morse reared and plunged, and, luckily,
in falling Fenker released his hold on
the bride, otherwise the horse mus
have stepped on him.
Adolph Fink witnessed the police
mans fall from distance. and hurried
to his assistance. A few minutes later
Roundsman Bosthoff arrived. The sig
nal not being completed, Sergt. Seely
dispatched the roundsman to find out
the cause. BoSthotf then procured a
wagon, and the injured man, who was
unconscious, was taken to his home, 645
East One Hundred and Fifty-fourth
street.
1t was found that his right hand was
burned and charred, the diseoIoration
extending several inches up the arm.
On his body, a few inches below the
breast, a charred spot about the size of
silver dollar was found. Both legs
were paralyZed by the shock, the wet
ground Oh which the policeman stood
forming an excellent conductor. Fen
hCl COilultlOH Is uOl cOllSiu6reu very
serious, and his physician thinks he
will recover the use of his limbs within
a few days.
The same flash that almost ended
| Fenker's career nearly blinded Police
| man Martin, also of the mounted squad,
| who was about 10 send signal from
| Hunters Point. The box was struck
by what seemed to him like ball of
fire, that ran along the wire to the sta
! ton house. The lightning also struck
| he of the wires at Concord avenue and
! One Hundred and SiXty-hrSt street and
| sent in an alarm.
Several of the policemen of the dis
| trict complained of the severe discl-
pine which compelS them to court
death in rainy weather. The present
laws of the police department require
an officer to send in two reports while
on his beat. 1t is process occupying
several minutes, and if the sergeant is
busy, it takes several minutes more.
First signal tap is sent to notify the
sergeant who taps back an answer.
Then the officer taps his number, the
number of his beat and the number of
| the signal box. Then he taps signal
asking the other end if the report is I'M
derstOod and must wait for an o. K. re-
Spouse. In rainy weather the men fire.
QuentlY sustain slight shocks.
Several of tine policemen who appre-
clate what narrow escape Fenker had
say they will submit TO fines in the fut-
ure in preference to counting shock
twice during their beat when the
weather indicates that it is dangerous.
The only object of the signal system is
to show that the officer Is at his pt st.