The morning call., 1891-08-10
THE PERIL OF THE WIRES.
Two Men Frustrated by an Electric Light
Curreut ShocI-

Two Men Frustrated by an Electric Light
Current Shock.
Two men were severely shocked in Lyons
restaurant, 259 Bowery, yesterday by re-
ceiving into their bodies the full current of
the electricity used to light the place by
means of incandeseent lamps. The acct
dent was caused by the bad insulation of
wire connected with chandelier holding
cluster of lights, says the New York Press.
The first victim was Patrick FitZsimonds, a
waiter, 16 years of age. A few minutes
past 8 o'clock yesterday morning, as had
been his custom, he started to put out the
incandescent lights. The lad had got nearly
half OF them extinguished and turned his at
tention to big brass chandelier suspended
in one OF the front windows. The wire con-
nected with this fixture runs along the arms
to the extreme ends, where the lamps are
made fast.
FitzSimonds. not being tall enough, could
not reach the keys easily from the floor.
Taking the ice-cream tub, the cover of
which was very wet, he stood on it in order
TO get at the lamps. The moment the lad
put his hand 10 the chandelier terrible
grGan issued from his lips. Then he seemed
to be drawn closer to the fixture until the
crown of his head came in contact with it.
A relaxation followed almost Immediately,
and he fell to the floor in heap.
Waiter j. j. Crowley, who had been a
witness Of the spectacle. rushed to the boys
side, but started back with fright The
eyes OF the boy bulged out Of their ketS,
the result OF agony, and white froth oozed
from his lips. while his frame became ter
ribly convulsed. Crowley carried him into
side room, where he lay while help was
summoned through the police. An ambu-
lance was called from Gouverneur Hospital.
When it arrived, nearly half au hour after
the shock was received, the boy had revived.
but his conversation was wildly incoherent
He continued in that state for some time
after be had been under treatment in the
hospital.
DR.. William Fl. Steers took charge of the
case. Fitzsimonds, the doctor said, had
very close call. There were no visible signs
of burns on the boys fingers or head.
The cause of the accident is somewhat
vague. The current, which is alternating,
is furnished by the East River Electric Light
company: The wires come through the top
OF the window. thence to the brass fixture,
Straps, which should hold the wires up to
the wall, were absent, either never having
been put I'D or having become worn out and
taken oil, Tor the wires had rubbed against
the sharp edge of the brass ornament ON top
until the Insulation had been destroyed
The current was thus left to enter the brass
chandelier and charge it,
An hour or two after the accident to Fitz-
simonds, Day Cashier William Reed stood
on adry-goods box, and when he touched
the fixture lie received a shock which threw
him to the marble floor on his knees Reed
was dazed for time, and later remarked
with great earnestness:
If any one tells me that electricity does
not torture, I'll tell him that he does not
know what he is talking about"
Word was then sent to the electric COM
pany to have the wires cut. That was done.
Ohe electric-light man afterward said that
II the converter was in working order there
were not more than fifty volts on the wires
or fixture when FitZsimonds touched them.
Ii the converter WAS not properly adjusted
there were at least GOO volts running
l. L.