The daily critic., 1890-08-09

Tur r>TEEvru rutt Of this morning
u.afts O valuable contribution to tine liter
afure a. electricity by giving 0u unusually
able account o. an accident that btfell
man OF the name OF Ross last even.
ing. We say 10 is valuable because
~ viii add materially 20 the al
ready uuiutellgible mess Of opinion,
assertion and controversy on that subject
But we must first let the able reporter tell
lis story lie says Gross had been placing
new cartons iu the lamp 40 Tenth aud f
streets northwest, and was iust placing the
last carbon IN position when his hand
clipped and struck the cable. The whole
current Of 1900 volts Instantly passed
through a hole 10 his right-haud rubber
glove ard came out in his left forearm,
which was touching the lamp. The cur
rent passed through Ross body for about
i've seconds, causing instant iusensibiIity.
lie was strapped 10 the pole, which was
the only thing that prevented him from fall
ing 70 the pavement thirty feet below" +"
Tie story then goes on 10 say. "Ile was
unconscious bur a few seconds, and when
he revived be Immediately began shouting
for help. A crowd gathered IN an Instant.
Res displayed au iron nerve, however, as
lie uustrgpI ed himself while tortured with
fearful pain and suffering, aud heroically
staggered 10 a neighboring drug store.
Here HE courage never deserted him and
Le beToically submitted 10 the cutting
awsy of the ebarFed flesh upon bis second
finger, where the contact with the deadly
current bad been made. Then be walked
two squares 10 the Emergency Hospital.
where his finger was carefully dressed.
Not a murmur did be utter, and not an eK-
preston Of pain or weakness was visible
upon his face for even q moment
The really important feature Of the epi-
eodei however, must be sought IN the moral
reflections INDUCED by the reporter, and
TIE priceless. scientific iuferences drawn by
AT. Ross. Tie reporter says: sYiewed in
ILe light Of the circumstances connected
Nilh kemnleF's execution, the electric
light men we're inclined 70 think last night,
af'er this additional confirmation and from
their owu experience, that Kemmler could
Iol have been biled instantly when the drst
current vas spplied Ross, in describing
Lis seI satioHs wheu the current struck hin,
faid q az be felt as II a brick house had
suddenly struck him on the head, aui then
while The current played through his body
be suffered the most eXcruciatiug torture,
BLich vas relieved by insensibilily.n
And Ross is quoted as saying;
Il felt Just as suppose KemmIer did,
ana have no doubt that be revived after
the shock, IS the reports say that be only
received ] 500 volts on the hrst application.
We electrical men have always been Of the
opinion that execution by electricity vas
cruel and iubumau. Our experience has
taught us that some men can slaud even
stronger currents for a longer period than
that which ! sustained tonight, aud stil
live. After ny experience tonight, my
opinion, as an electrical man, that electro
Cutiou Is inadequate Is even stronger than
ever.
Here We have a current 0f 1000 volts
passing through Mr. Ross person for dFe
consecutive seconds. Tie reporter first
says ilat e produced instant lasenslbulty
tut Mr. Ross declares that be fcIt as though
3 brieE house had fallen Oh him. Ross also
states thar be felt just as he supp0ses
Eemmler felL aul adds that be has no
doub4 K6mmler revived after the shock
All q which Is o. The utmost Importance
10 science. It's notorious that the gentle
meu who change he carbous b are
lamps Tor electric light companies are an
profoundly Fersed 70 the science ana com
peteut 10 deliver opinions upon ans ka0tty
problems that may arise. Another ven
established truth is that tie average r.
porter CONES next 10 capacity for lhs s0Iu-
tiou lf TIE grave, reeQndite mysteries en-
ccuuterad . human investigation.
Meanwhile, however, the public VII con-
true 10 believe. ou tie testimony 81 those
aho witnessed Tie Kemmler execution
fhat he became unconscious lasEauta-
neously. and tbat BE- did - revive. Tie
Hublic Hu also. after rejoicing over Mr.
Rcs6 escape ana gl0rylng iu his uerEe ana
Hlack, couelade that r 2 900 F0lts ala really
Fasa thraueh hls diaphragm during ths
aHaee q aEe Heeouds theg aust haFs besn