The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-11-02
More Stone.Throwing and Other Disorderly
Acts in Ireland. Accompanied with vitu-
peratiye Speeches BY Faction Leaders.
Minister Phelps's Effort to Make Amer
lean Corn Popular Among Germans.
Duty Will Be Abolished if Herr Miguel Can
Accomplish lt-Adyocates of Anarchy
Organize a New Socialist Party.
FRIGHTFUL DEATH.
Man Almost Incinersted by Coming in Con.
tact with an Electric Wire.

Man Almost Inclnersted by Coming in Con-
tact with an Electric Wire.
PANAMA, Oct. 26.-This city has had a
startling and APPALLING ex perience OF the cleo
tric wires potent pow or to slay first horse
and then man. Both were stricken with
instant death and the latter partially in
cinerated by contact with live electric
wire. On the afternoon of Saturday last
some street Arabs at play detached a
naked telephone wire and caused it to
hang from tho support to the
ground. trailing over the street-light
circuIt-wires of the electric-hght COM
pany. The evening closed in dark ond
stormy. and by some fatal mischance the
obstruction was not removed. At about Z
p. NJ. police lieutenant discovered the
wire hanging and commenced to haul il in
and coil il about on old Gaslight post The
act of drawing the fine wire over the in
suIatlon of the electric-light wire caused it
to cut into and through the latter. Sud-
denly the officer was seen to spring vio-
lently back into the air and fall uncon-
scious. Fortunately he had not received
the full force of the current. and soon re-
covered. Of course. a great crowd was
instantly on the scene, and. with awe
stricken curiosity, watched the develop
ments. A policeman was detailed to keep
the crowd at safe distance. while the
lieutenant proceeded. with all haste, to
notify the electric-light people.
Meanwhile a cab came RAPIDLY driving
along. The policeman shouted vigorously.
halt, halt" and the crowd took up the
warning cry in a chorus, hut all to no pur-
pose. AS if driven by fate the vehicle
rushed on. and right over the deadly wire.
Instantly the horse reel-d and plunged
hea6long to the ground, its flesh
sizzling The cab was not overturned and
the driver sprang out and rushed TO the
of what was wrong In spite of warning
yells from the crowd be grabbed the trail
ing string" that had upset his horse. At
the instant the wire swung across his fore
head. bit through the sknli almost to his
ears. and there renamed. although the un-
fortunate victim fell forward over tho
horse.
And now q frlghtful scene. never to be
forgotten by the spectators. " as witnessed.
The electric fluid literally filed the mans
head. and In moment the brain and eyes
had been completely incinerated. ThaD the
flesh and skin smoked and sizzled until
they also were reduced almost to ashes.
All this while fbe sparks played
about about tn the l heaa ,;i,.,,n in ,,, an awfnl
and radiatiDg the consuming fire. 1t was
several minntrs before the electric current
could be turned Oft, and when it was the
body was found To be partially burned 10
ashes. the head completely 40. The sight
was one of the most repuisive phases of
death the most morbid mind could desire
to behold. There were at the time between
l.500 and 1000 volts going over the wires,
and as the weight of the horse on the teie-
phone wire had completely cut through the
insulation. the man. of course. received the
full blast of the current at the first con-
tact. This, 1t Is believed. is the first death
by electricity. that has occurred In South
America